All nations in the world are convulsing from the ghastly pandemic Covid -19 shock that terrorised and disrupted the lives of people like no other disease has ever done for a century. Never ever dreamt of this situation to befall humanity. In these critical times, when India as a nation rattled on how to tackle the situation, Pakistan played its dirty politics of sending its cross-border terrorists, assuming the occasion favourable.
When the impact of Article-370 abrogation is simmering down, when people in Kashmir Valley are coming to normalcy and when they are all otherwise engaged in taking care of themselves from the deadly coronavirus, Pakistan targeted our military in the recent (last week) attacks in Hindwara, North Kashmir, brutally killing Army officer of such a senior rank as Colonel, besides a Major, two other Army personnel and a policeman on counter terrorism duty. Next, again, the terrorists mowed down three CRPF jawans on law and order duty (a couple of days ago). These leave an impression that Pakistan intends a perrieniel unrest in India that impairs India’s progress.
By doing those gruesome acts, Pakistan would like to keep alive the Kashmir problem that otherwise would have gone into a distant memory of the people in the Valley. In peaceful situations people are bothered about their daily lives. Indian army did not take those acts of terror lying down. Within a day (on 6 May), the Indian security forces neutralised top Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo, one of the 10 most wanted terrorists, and his aide, in a gun battle.
Unlike Pakistan, in this global Covid-19 crisis, India is behaving responsibly. As a matter of fact , it’s more sagacious than most of the nations. Even a major super power, the USA, has also resorted to name-calling and conspiracy theories. The president of America minces no words in calling the coronavirus as China’s Wuhan Virus, a creation of China etc. Of course, he’s taking a stand in the election year for the goof-ups he made initially to contain the virus. America is supposed to be a mature-democracy, a super power, an economic giant that has controlled the world for so long and its resorting to these antics, is something unimaginable. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, went on to announce that the coronavirus originated from China’s Laboratory without a proof to that effect. China promptly questioned him to show the proof. In any case, China on its part is not guiltless. It has committed blunders by sweeping the virus under the carpet at its inception. Viruses cannot be handled that way by hush-ups. Let the heat of the coronavirus be cooled. Let everything become normal. China has to answer many questions.The world wouldn’t leave it so kindly!
Whereas, India by not showing the needle of suspicion towards China regarding the coronavirus origin, as America did, is wise. As a matter of policy, our PM would like to maintain good,cordial relationships with all neighbouring countries. Like Pakistan, China never resorts to cross-border terrorism or aggression (of course, barring a minor skirmish in Dokhlam). China’s vision is to make China a superpower, by 2049, i.e. 100 years of (commemoration) Chinese Communist Party. It’s better India competes with China in becoming a superpower by the same time instead of petty squabbles. In fact, India’s relationship with Russia, China and other SAARC nations is impressive. India is heading towards multilateralism.
All world-nations are rushing to develop the vaccine to immunize their population against the coronavirus. Each country is emphasizing on their citizens safety first. They want their population to be inoculated, before others,if the vaccine is found/invented in their country. India is no less in the race. Indian scientists are working hard to find one and make 1.3 billion doses. It’s heartening to see all world leaders trying to protect their people and scientists working hard day and night to save humanity.
On the domestic front, the migrant labourers issue triggered a big debate. Railway ticket fares– being charged for migrant labourers— to go to their native places— has become an issue for the opposition to beat the ruling party with. In a democracy, the opposition waits for an opportunity to point out the lacunae in the ruling parties policies. The long queues of migrant labourers, for hours together to get health certificates from the state-health authorities, shows the pathetic plight of the poor in this country.
As property is inherited for generations, poverty is also inherited in our country from the parents. That’s the biggest reason for the inequality in the country. Some media sections lauded Sonia Gandhi for her statement of the Congress party bearing the labourers’ Railway charges. Sonia Gandhi’s party is part of the problem, for the poor being poor in India, the Congress has never been part of the solution. However, the central BJP government should have handled the issue with more care, as the prime minister has a pro-poor image. For, politics is all about perception.
All in all, Covid-19 has taught many lessons on the social, economic and political lives of nations and national cultures. Indian culture got its due recognition for its way of greeting people and for its Yoga and meditation to soothe the mind in this hour of crisis. Let’s wait and watch, how our able prime minister takes the country to heights as the geopolitical situation seems conducive to India post Covid-19, on all fronts.
