#DUTY
A task or action that a person is bound to perform for moral or legal reasons.
The force that binds one morally or legally to one’s obligations
A job or service allocated
#DISGUST
To sicken or fill with loathing
To offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of
Though I realize that the above tweets of MoS, External Affairs and former army chief, also known for his fearless attitude towards the then-ruling government, V K Singh, can never be reasonably interpreted by me, you or the section of media/ opposition parties coming up with all new theories of his disrespect towards his obligations and towards India-Pak so-called warm relations, but let us view his Twitter feeds, ‘Duty’ and ‘Disgust’ with the eye of patriotic Indian. In the very beginning, I will make it clear that Pakistan envoy’s dinner invitation to separatist Kashmiri leaders, in my view, is a plain misuse of authorities, and he must be rather thankful to the Indian government and their security measures that despite of acting in a somewhat anti-India manner, he steered clear of any objections from the people of India, noticing the recurring terror attacks in Pakistan where even trivial events call severe injuries. And then you even had the support of the ruling government which had a representative at your dinner, a man of grace, General V K Singh.
Dear Mr. Abdul Basit, you represent your country, Pakistan, in India and representatives of countries in other nations are deployed to ensure that ties between two nations are strengthened, any hostility be minimized; hence envoys have an indispensable duty also towards the country where they are deployed at, a duty to safeguard interests of that nation, at any cost. India would have felt much assuring if you had criticized the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, but you opted for sending him an invite for the dinner you had hosted to cheer your country’s Republic Day. ‘Republic’ means ‘a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch’. I hope that words I have laid stress upon justify the presence of elected government in J&K, which is an integral part of India. Then the methodology of separation, boycott of laid down procedures and demands of monarchy, which is the ideology of Hurriyat leaders, is of course anti-India and should not have been endorsed by an astute High Commissioner.
When in army and as a commander of the nation’s armed force, one is infused with intact and supreme patriotism, attacks by any other country are not just retaliated by way of bullets and bombs but also by an emotional spirit. Then, sitting next to people, who plan split-up of a territory from your country’s land, is like killing your loyalty and rendering you deserted. I cannot judge the exact sentiments of former army chief when he cherished one of the India’s topmost rebels’ Republic Day with hardline leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a person infamous for his prayer meetings for Laden, support to Hafiz Saeed and Afzal Guru and appeals for boycott of 2014 J&K elections, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, but indeed, if I was in his place, that moment had been sore and slaying. Even when V K Singh’s further tweet indicated that his ‘disgust’ was towards media’s way of interpreting events, I believe these are political weaknesses and are resorted to by even true seculars because ‘fake secularism’ has gripped our country to the core, media, voters and politicians equally responsible. Indeed, it would have been best if the ‘Disgust’ tweet would never have come up from a minister of external affairs, after he pointed out his ‘Duty’, the force that bound him towards legal obligation, the obligation to represent India’s warmth towards a neighbor nation.
23rd March was also the day when Indians recalled the martyr of brave Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, I am sure that the former army chief would have felt the passion much more than us or any other political personality; hence his same day’s visit to the place that marked presence of anti-national leaders was nothing more than a disgrace. But, for the same, the central government or its decision to direct a former army chief to the dinner by Pak High Commissioner cannot be blamed; today, we are a part of a civilized society and international diplomatic relations and obligations, also Pakistan shares a special bond with India. It is now on the sensibility of the media to interpret circumstances in the light of Indian social and political setup, and deriving yet another controversy from the tweets of V K Singh is not called for. The stride of development demands a judicious Indian media, which shall keep in mind and respect international relations of the country and also any honest remarks of a people’s representative.
Lastly, it is contenting to hear the words of the Ministry of External Affairs that has very clearly sent across a message that solution for India-Pak issues over Kashmir can never involve third parties. PM Modi has multiple liabilities to serve; bringing economic growth and wiping out the curses of poverty, unemployment and inequality; but along with, the Kashmir and other national integrity subjects too seek his astute vision and governing capabilities. And the former army chief who performed his duty competently deserves applaud and salute.
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