So much contradictory reporting has occurred in the Kathua Rape case that it is difficult to believe what is right and what is wrong. The ambiguity ranges from reports that the victim’s parents were murdered some years back and she was staying with her aunt, to ‘live’ interview of her father. The whole case is ‘swathed in religion’. Politicization has gone to the extent that hoardings on vehicles during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to London were connecting and demonizing him directly with the crime. Given the power of media, which John Swinton of NYT described as “intellectual prostitutes”(http://www.blatantpropaganda.org/propaganda/articles/journalists-are-intellectual-prostitutes-says-John-Swinton-of-the-New-York-Times.html), public opinion can be moulded with twisted narrative. But can anyone explain why then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not demonized for the ‘Nirbhaya’ rape and murder right in the heart of the capital?
Rape is the most heinous crime that merits death by hanging. Ironically, castration and hanging by the balls can’t be the rule in a democracy. But the Kathua rape case reached singular milestone in history of crime with all accused asking for: one, CBI inquiry and fast-track hearing, and; two, narco-test be conducted on them the very first day, through court order. Why would the accused so ask is what the readers need to think, and why were these requests refused when prominent demand in rape cases elsewhere is CBI inquiry? Demonstrators supporting request of the accused for CBI inquiry in the Kathua rape are projected by media pro-rapists. There is no denying Hurriyat hardliners masterminding radicalization and terror-funding would not have been exposed without the NIA, but wasn’t latter’s presence in J&K vehemently opposed by CM Mehbooba Mufti? So, CBI inquiry can only be asked for by the CM, why not NIA investigation?
Farukh Abdullah once boasted he settled Bakarwal’s in the Jammu region successfully. The Bakarwals are easygoing folks loyal to India, which was never liked by the two main political parties of J&K thriving in the riches of the terror industry through their cross-border links. That is why Bakarwal’s were being pushed out from north of Pir Panjal. The manner in which the Kathua rape case has been politicized would help drive a wedge between the Bakarwal’s and the local Hindu population; both hounded out to make way for hardliner Islamists from the Valley. More importantly, it diverts attention from the Rohingya issue that Jammu is simmering with.
Rapists have no religion and same is the case with Jaichands. Switching political party washes off all sins but is still no guarantee for loyalty. That is why political parties with puny Parliament representation wanted ‘no confidence motion’; confident many ruling part MPs would cross-vote to derail the government in order to save their ‘benami’ properties and illegally accumulated riches. Officials of various colours and walks of lives are available for a price or blackmail. It has nothing to do with religion, one example being, Hindu politicians and officials arranging illegal Aadhaar Cards to Rohingya migrants in Jammu. Votes and associated riches take precedence over religion; latter is sacrificial – what to talk of common man and his life. Multiple political parties claim ownership and eulogize Dr Ambedkar for the Constitution. None mention 388 members (many eminent personalities) that helped draft it over two years and 11 months. Yet, all reject Ambedkar’s dictum restricting reservations to 10 years.
The 2019 General Elections are ‘Battle Royale’ not for India alone but geopolitically for South Asia and the world at large. China and Pakistan want weak India but they are not the only ones. Ask yourself, who doesn’t want a weak India that can be manipulated at will (http://www.voltairenet.org/article185257.html)? The rise of India irks everyone. That is why all types of forces are in play. The hoardings (inset) in London were on display even as India does not figure in top 11 countries in rape crimes (https://www.trendrr.net/13049/countries-with-highest-rape-crime-famous-global-statistics/), Australia and America do, and London has seen 20% rise in rapes in a year (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rape-london-reports-met-police-rise-crime-sexual-assault-a8225821.html). Strangely, cabs and buses in London and US that earlier displayed ‘Free Balochistan’ briefly, have vanished.
The battle is to demonize Narendra Modi who must be removed at all cost, for which funds are pouring in globally and foreign intelligence working overtime with NGOs and Jaichands. There was systemic vilification against him for the Godhra Riots in conjunction foreign players (http://www.jaia-bharati.org/nicole-elfi/ni-godhra-ang.htm) but why then didn’t the then ruling clique prosecute him, given their expertise in criminalization of politics – IMDT Act of Assam, Punjab, J&K, you name it?
It is not the Karnataka elections but the 2019 elections that are make or break for the main opposition party and their cohorts. So, every conceivable trick will be used. If Cambridge Analytica hasn’t delivered fully, the Chinese will step in (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-telecoms/special-report-chinese-firm-helps-iran-spy-on-citizens-idUSBRE82L0B820120322). The 49 civil servants petitioning Modi are fully aware of constitutional responsibilities of the PM and the Chief Ministers, but their allegiance to the Hamam forbids them directing any question to Mehboba Mufti.
Rahul Gandhi said in 2014 that Modi’s rule will see 22,000 people killed. So much more violence can be expected in run up to May 2019. We may see more and more rapes politicized with religion drawn in, communal violence (terrorist strikes on demand?), pen-down strikes, agitations and the like. There would be many surprises like, one example being Rs 45,000 cr withdrawn from banking system in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka since Naidu pulled out from NDA and KCR went partying in West Bengal – aim being to collapse banking and scare account holders.
But in the final analysis it is up to the electorate to decide what India they want in the future.
Prakash Katoch is third generation army officer hailing from Himachal Pradesh. He is former Lieutenant General from Special Forces and post-retirement has published over 2100 articles on international affairs, geopolitics, military, security, technical and topical issues besides authoring two books. He is active in seminars at both national and international levels.
In your haste to defend the indefensible, General, you have completely missed the point. The widespread anger is not per se against the rape itself, but against the support given to the accused by the party you blindly defend.THEY were the ones who politicized it, not civil society or the media. You draw an analogy between the Nirbhaya case and the Kathua incident and castigate Manmohan Singh. Although the former too was not at all handled sensitively by the then Congress govt., you forget that no one from the party supported the accused then, nor did the then PM or HM maintain a studied silence on the horror. As for the CBI inquiry demand, two points you may like to mull over: [a] the victim’s family are satisfied with the investigations by the state police, so who are a bunch of goons with no locus standi to demand one?, and [b] your faith in the CBI is touching, if a bit naive: it functions under the same party that ” politicized” this crime and is known to be a trained lap dog; it inspires no confidence except among those who wanted to derail and delay the whole investigation. In any case the investigation was being monitored by the High Court and those not satisfied( like the two BJP Ministers) could have approached the court to transfer the case to the CBI. Unfounded conspiracy theories against Mr. Modi cannot hide the fact that he has an EVM where the heart should be.
Dear General,
I have been great admirer of your writings on military matters.
Unfortunately on politics your views are naive, and your analysis of the political consequences are biased in favour of BJP and NaMo.
Countries are not dependent up on an individual to progress. The institutions strength determines the future of the nation. Unfortunately the institutions are under threat from the low level of politicians – who do not have integrity, vision or strength of character. This is applicable to both Congress and BJP.
Your defence of NaMo is pathetic and jaundiced. He has done nothing to justify your faith in him.
Stop imagining conspiracies in a rape case which was politicised by BJP to further its agenda.
The low level to which CBI and NIA have fallen in their professional conduct is due to shameful hired IPS thugs in these institutions.
In future stick mil matters.