Threat of internal enemies
Keshav Upadhye, a young, dynamic and prominent face, has been working with the Bharatiya Janata Party for over two decades. In 2014, the then state president Devendra Fadnavis had appointed Upadhye as the spokesperson in his team. Owing to his journalistic background and better understanding of the socio-economic issues of the state, Upadhye made a mark as a spokesperson in a short span. He articulates the views of the party and aggressively defends the party on various platforms including the Marathi and Hindi national news channels. Keshav Upadhye worked for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and after completing his degree in Journalism from Ranade Institute, Pune, he began his career as a journalist with daily Pudhari, Loksatta and Mumbai Tarun Bharat. Knowing the pulse of the news, he writes on varied topics and on various platforms like the newspapers, blogs and other social media platforms. He was involved in two study groups formed by the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in 2006 to study the naxalite movement and its adverse impact on the development of Chhatisgarh. The Prabodhini later published this report. He was also a part of the Prabodhini's fact-finding committee formed to study the Solapur riots. LESS ... MORE
After the Pahalgam attack, the common man stood behind the government in unity. In fact, people in the country are absolutely sure that Narendra Modi government will give a befitting reply to this attack. The reason being India retaliated to similar terrorist attacks in 2016 and 2019 by directly entering Pakistani territory. The common Indian is certain that Prime Minister Modi will take the right decision in terms of the country's security.
In 2008, Pakistani terrorists entered a city like Mumbai and killed hundreds of innocent Indians. The then ruling government of Congress led by Manmohan Singh did nothing but condemn Pakistan. Terrorists in Pahalgam first confirmed that the innocent civilians were Hindus and then killed them. This information was given by the relatives of the citizens who fell victim to this attack.
This underlined the fact that only Hindus were targeted. There is nothing more unfortunate than seasoned leader like Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar playing politics over this. It has often seen that the entire nation stands firmly behind the central government in war and crisis like terrorist attacks. After the struggle for Bangladesh liberation started in 1971, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to support that struggle. At that time, Mrs Gandhi had a discussion with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She gave him an idea of the situation. Back then, Atalji had clearly told Indiraji that 'Jana Sangh will give total support to the government's decision'.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was aware that showing party differences in such a situation would have been an anti-national act. 'We will criticize the government's other policies in Parliament and on other platforms whenever necessary, but after Pakistan attacked India over the Bangladesh Liberation war, it is the duty of every patriotic citizen to stand behind the government', this was the sentiment behind Jana Sangh giving its total support to Indira Gandhi government. National interest is larger than the party interest that is the basic teaching of Jana Sangh and BJP workers. With this same sentiment, Deendayal Upadhyay had publicly assured during the 1965 Pakistan war that Jana Sangh is with Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Unfortunately, today's Congress leadership seems to lack a broad nationalist vision.
The Modi government had immediately called an all-party meeting to inform all opposition parties regarding the situation after the Pahalgam attack as well as the government's stand on it. Senior leader Sharad Pawar was the country's Defence Minister from 1991 to 1993. Having been active in national politics for many years, Pawar Saheb knows the role opposition parties should play in supporting the government in such situations. Pawar saheb met the relatives of the citizens who fell victim in the Pahalgam attack. Pawar saheb told the media that relatives of victims said that, 'terrorist killed citizens after asking the religion'.
However, Pawar saheb did not forget to add a remark that he does not know whether the terrorist actually did so. The question still remains that why a leader like Pawar saheb would try to say that Hindus were not targeted and killed. On the other hand, the Congress has proved once again that they have completely lost their mind.
A faceless photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was published on Congress's official 'X' handle on the grounds of 'sar tan se juda'. Congress had criticised through this photograph that Prime Minister Modi disappeared after the terrorist attack. Prime Minister Modi cut short his foreign visit and returned to India after learning about the attack.
The Prime Minister held meetings at the airport itself without even going to his residence. Congress was probably expecting that the Prime Minister should have revealed these important discussions even during such a situation. Congress deleted its post on 'X' after severe criticism. Even in this situation Vijay Wadettiwar was babbling like a fool. He made a statement that, 'terrorists do not have so much time to kill citizens by asking their religion'.
There is a saying in Hindi, 'Ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhaye'. This means that anti-national people living in the country are more dangerous than external enemies. The statements of Congress leaders reminds one of this saying. Congress leadership has lost this sense that our statements should not harm the country, no matter what the circumstances are. It is the duty of the opposition parties to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party in politics.
However, everyone must be careful that expressing the opposition should not lean towards anti-nationalism. Congress has forgotten the national interest while opposing the BJP. Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah has publicly taken a stand of war with Pakistan over Pahalgam attack. There is absolutely no doubt that Pakistan's secret supporters in India are the biggest threat for the country.
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