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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
A month in the media is a long time – so much happened!
Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — 'The Victoria Cross: A Love Story'. She was executive producer with the International Commentary Service Inc, New York in 1990. She was the executive publisher of The Earth Times, New York (1992- 98). She has also worked as the editor of Choices Magazine, United Nations Development Programme. She writes on various issues including human rights, population and sustainable development. LESS ... MORE I write this blog with a heavy heart, as so much has happened over the last month, and I also had health problems. My first thought is to pray for the families of the Air India crash, and I pray such a disaster never happens again anywhere in the world. Whatever the reason, we will get to the bottom of it, as India, for sure, will get to the bottom of what caused it. Tata has not only sent people on the ground, but they have said they will pay Rs 1 Crore to the family of every victim. We have a good safety record as far as our flights are concerned, and people must not be scared of flying, as more people die in road accidents per country than plane crashes. Then we had a very big victory over Pakistan! Even though they presented it as a victory for them! This after some of the best war analysts in the world had extensive interviews with our major TV channels, explaining via their satellite photos how much we had crippled their command control centres, there terror infrastructure and their airfields. Much of this is old news, and Pakistan had their own narrative and copied us by sending a team of their so-called MPs and politicians to a few countries where they thought they would get the most mileage. But they got brickbats, while our team of ministers and MPs wowed every country. Just think what Bilawal Bhutto is against Shashi Tharoor! Let alone India, the way he spoke and presented the case, for the 88-hour skirmish, even the Pakistani public and media were jealous. And then the master stroke of sending several MPs and ministers from different parties to speak about India, from all the religions of India, portrayed beyond any doubt that whether you are of any religion, caste or opposition party, when India speaks – it speak in unison for INDIA, it stands firm about its civilisation, its security and its special place in the world. There were naysayers in India who would denigrate every step we take as a country, but they are more reviled both by mainstream media and social media. So the sooner they get their act together, the better for their political ambitions. There are some hard-hitting truths that all Indians must learn: First, you can criticise the central government, but at least come up with good data and arguments. Second, think hard before you speak, especially in public or to the media. Third, come up with solid, enactable solutions, not harebrained ideas. Realise you are dealing with voters who, through smartphones, know more than a one-sided messages. Do not ever talk down to a voter or someone from the media or even social media. This is not the 1960s or even the India of 2004. More voters and their families are educated than before even though they may not be of the highest standard. More people have aspirations to bring themselves and their kids being better off than their parent's generation, and more successful. So positive vibes and political encouragement and action are needed. Some big parties do it well but don't talk much about it—some just criticise every move but don't tell you solutions as they don't have any. Lastly, this seems to be the era of wars, not peace. Some wars are watched closely, but others fade from the news. For instance, not many talk of the brutal civil war in Sudan, or what is happening in Syria, Baluchistan, Afghanistan, the South China Seas, or even countries in Africa. Last night, Israel attacked the nuclear sites and the military establishment of Iran. Iran is still defiant, and I cannot get over the Iranian government leaders in power, saying loudly and clearly for the world to see and hear them —Death to America, the Great Satan, and Death to America, the little Satan. This has been their MANTRA FOR DECADES! As I write this, the so-called little Satan has destroyed Iran's major Nuclear sites, killed the highest commanding officers in the IRGC, and destroyed several radar systems and defence infrastructure. Iran is a big country. The youth and middle class are well educated, but for years they have been fleeing the country due to draconian Sharia laws and the civil society is fed up, and will help to dethrone the Mullahs of this regime. Even if it means a few weeks of war. The Iranian government, as far as I am concerned, brought all this on themselves by their threats of destroying every US base and insisting that they will build their nukes and destroy Israel. They had it coming, I think. Will this lead to a world war? I think not. No country is openly supporting Iran. Yes, a few are sending drones and other war equipment, but this amounts to little. America will aid Israel, and several others will join or have helped by knocking out the drone swarm heading for Israel. Where will Russia and China stand? Apart from sending weapons, they will not overtly support Iran. Russia and China have their own problems, and personally, I feel they will be bystanders. After all, words don't count; action does. Iran will definitely go through a regime change, a new, hopefully better secular government comes in that does not spew hate against any country and even more let its women dress as they want to and don't get killed for not wearing a Hijab. The population are fed up and desperately wants change. I predict it will happen. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi is brilliant and Pakistan is like a headless chicken!
Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — 'The Victoria Cross: A Love Story'. She was executive producer with the International Commentary Service Inc, New York in 1990. She was the executive publisher of The Earth Times, New York (1992- 98). She has also worked as the editor of Choices Magazine, United Nations Development Programme. She writes on various issues including human rights, population and sustainable development. LESS ... MORE While Pakistan is issuing weird press releases in the middle of the night and moving their tanks, troops and airforce here and there, PM Modi is inaugurating a port in Kerala and speaking at the Waves Conference in Mumbai, with the 'Mantra- Create in India, Create for the World', on how to break barriers in an interconnected world. Having watched several Pakistani analysts and journalists who have been driven out of Pakistan, by its authoritarian Army, I am convinced that having tried diplomacy, tactical strikes etc on Pakistan, its bloated and ever greedy Armed Forces, that literally sucks the blood of its people, will kill its own people but never give up its multi billion dollar empire. Our PM has realised this. What better way than to keep them guessing? What better way than giving the Pakistan Army, which is running around like a headless chicken, to literally beggar their economy and keep them on high alert till it suits us. Meanwhile, their Stock Market tanks, their fuel runs short, and we prepare to hit their big assets at the right time. But first, we literally starve them of options and get them pleading to the world to stop India from an attack. I can assure the World that PM Modi will not do any blanket bombing of Pakistan or its people. That is not the Bharatyia Way; we don't kill innocent tourists. No, we are much more evolved- we will do to Pakistan what they said they would do to India after 1971, when they lost East Pakistan. They said they would -'Bleed us with 1000 cuts' they tried through war and terror strikes, and yes, we lost precious lives. But much to their dismay, India did not suffer economically from countries shunning us or not giving us billions of dollars of investment. We have a government that is strong, dedicated, and has brilliant advisors. Now we have a new Sheriff in town, as the west would say, and you can be sure he will choose the best way to bring Pakistan to its knees begging us to make peace. But this time, we will be at peace on our terms, and it will be tough for the Rogue State of Pakistan to concede to but they will have no choice. The civilised world is against this rogue state for all the worst terrorist attacks and terrorists they exported around the world to countries that they did not even have a grudge with. Somewhat like a Macho Country with little brains, but lots of terror training camps that sent terrorists to several countries apart from India. Most terrorists were killed, but many are locked up in high security prisons around the world. Pakistan has really earned a place in the world as the most terror-exporting and dubious passport country in the world. It will really hurt the generals and people in high Places who have dual passports and find themselves not wanted anywhere! Except for China and North Korea, where they would be welcomed with open arms and a bit of prison training. No, this time our strategy will be to bleed them slowly, but effectively. Put them on the FATF black list. Make them the pariahs of the world. Create so much panic and distrust that they implode on their own. We will, when the timing is right, take down their most potent assets but we will do it when they do not expect it. Catch them by surprise. Hassle them so much that we literally drive them mad, sweating in their pants, their soldiers spent, their fuel and ammunition depleted And their morale lost. And we will need much less than a thousand cuts. We have our citizens behind us. We have the world behind us, barring some rogue states that support Pakistan. All we need is patience and to carry on doing whatever we can to help Bharat. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
