An open letter to ‘The Hindu’

To the Editor in Chief, Editor, Editorial Staff

Sub : In response to your editorial titled ‘Let’s not be so predictable’ on August 8 2013 (http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/lets-not-be-so-predictable/article5000176.ece).

Sir,
    In the above mentioned article, I wanted to clarify a few points…

1. You have in your usual sanctimonious way stated ‘The uproar against talking to Pakistan and on Defence Minister A K Antony’s alleged “escape route” to the Pakistan Army misses the the point that despite the bluster of a “befitting response”, there is no alternative to dialogue’.

– A K Antony’s alleged “escape route”? By inserting the word alleged are you implying that it was not so? If not, then what was it?; and further, the statement  ‘despite the bluster of a “befitting response”, there is no alternative to dialogue’. Dialogue? Let us go back to what your newspaper underwent in 2003. The then Chief Minister Jayalalitha had accused your newspaper of ‘breach of privilege’ and sentenced you to 15 days in jail and your offices were also raided. At that time the editor had screamed about ‘freedom of the press being trampled upon, etc’ and ran everywhere to protest the Chief Minister’s action. You even approached the then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to intervene. For being raided and a sentence of 15 days in jail did you ever think of or speak of a ‘dialogue’ with Jayalalitha? You rightfully ran around to protest; but when a proclaimed enemy like Pakistan continously butchers, tortures, beheads our brave soldiers you make a cowardly suggestion that there is ‘no alternative to dialogue’? Different rules for the soldiers and different rules for impotent politicians and journalists like you? Have you forgotten the 2 wars, the jihadi attacks, the bombings, the incursions and the naked hatred Pakistan has for us?  How different are you from our castrated  politicians? One of their breed even suggested that police and armymen are meant to be martyred; and our champion seculars are, as usual, deafeningly silent or spouting statements similar to you. How many of your close relatives has been tortured, beheaded or slaughtered? The soldiers’ only crime is they are serving in an army who is given orders by utterly selfish, anti national, cowardly and vote banking seeking politicians. According to your wisdom how many more patriots have to die for a ‘befitting response’ from India?

2. ‘This is not the first time the truce along the LoC has been violated in the past 10 years of its existence. It is only by engagement that the two sides can protect this ceasefire, the value of which cannot be overstated. And, it is only through engagement that Islamabad can be held to its 2004 commitment not to permit terrorists to operate from territory under its control, and be pushed to act against those responsible for violence against India.’

– Engagement? With an enemy who has sworn to destory India? Your idea is laughable at best and reprehensible at the worst, and absolutely callous towards our martyred jawans and other victims of Pakistan’s hostility and terrorism. The Pakistani policy of bleeding india with a thousand cuts gets gets emboldened with the spineless Indian response by dialogues, engagements and appeasement acts.

‘Islamabad can be held to its 2004 commitment not to permit terrorists to operate from territory under its control’; Isn’t your paper aware that Osamaji Bin Laden (as our eminent leader and champion secularist Digvijay Singh respectfully called him) was a revered guest of Pakistan? And not to mention Hafeez Sayeed, Dawood Ibrahim and the countless jihadi outfits out to decapitate India?

3. ‘Prime Minister Sharif has given every indication that he is sincere in his wish for friendship with India but equations between him and the Pakistan Army are yet unsettled’

– Friendship with Taliban lovers and jihadis? Which indication are you talking about? Perhaps you can enlighten the ignorant people of Bharat who does not have your visionary skills.

– A devout Indian

Responses