Saving Punjab and India

By VS MAHAJAN

This is with reference to your news about the sad end of Ajit Singh Sandhu, the former SSP of Punjab who was part of the team that curbed and defeated terrorism in Punjab. There has been some opposing voices also, mainly from the so-called human rights advocates.

One may concede that there might have been excesses in Punjab by the Police when facing and fighting terrorism. The Indian judicial system and watchful citizens generally take care of those allegations. Then the authorities punish whosoever is found guilty of really excessive force.

The question is in a given situation where heavily armed terrorists know no laws and respect no human rights what kind of policy will bring results for the overwhelming majority of peace loving and law abiding citizens? The Gandhian way of Ahinsa becomes totally irrelevant. The political parties were also in hiding before the armed atrocities and the reign of terror on a section of the citizens. Those who now cry for human rights and join in the witch hunt against law enforcement authorities such as KPS Gill and Ajit Sandhu, did not utter a single word against terrorists that were out to dismember the country, were perpetrating brutalities on innocent people, looting Government treasuries and banks and did not hesitate to be armed, aided and guided by enemies of India. Where were all the VM Tarkundes and Kuldip Nayars and others? They were hiding behind their desks in cozy offices and homes far away from the crucial battlefield.

It was a delicate situation and any soft policy would have resulted in another partition of India. The astonishing fact was that many of those who were uprooted from their hearths and homes in West Pakistan were among the terrorists trying to follow the dictates of Pakistan and were bent upon dividing the country again, the country that gave them shelter and opportunity to prosper. The Punjabis (both Hindus and Sikhs) were driven out from West Pakistan, murdered, tortured and were subjected to untold atrocities, their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters were raped and kidnapped, put in harems, their property looted and grabbed. Some of the same people who suffered were not ashamed of accepting help and arms from Pakistan to go against India that rehabilitated them.

The Police in Punjab saved the State and the country from further partition and also saved the common people by their determination, courage and sacrifice. Human rights were being violated by terrorists at the behest of foreign powers. Those who now cry for the militants and allege violation of human rights by the authorities are doing disservice to Motherland. Let me know if there was any other way to save the state, a vast majority of which was against terrorism and for peace and harmony. This desire and anti-militancy mood was recently demonstrated in the elections where the extremists groups were routed.

What better lesson for those who cry hoarse on behalf of terrorists! Shame on them and kudos for the brave saviors of Motherland! Let the countrymen rally for the heroes.

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