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May 27, 1998
SPECIALS
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How Readers responded to Amberish K Diwanji's last column
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 22:38:14 +0400 This is one of the most irresponsible arguments against the nuke tests. Mr Diwanji sounds as stupid as Deva Gowda or Salman Khurshid. Does he know the defence compulsions better than the government? Can he assert that China is not actively aiding Pakistan? With hostile nations like Pak and China on either side, and with Pak gloating over the Ghauri missile, is it not time, perhaps even too late, to prove India is indeed a superior military power in the region? And who should decide the timing? The Congress or the government in power? Is it not idiotic to even state that the BJP government did what it did to contain the internal squabbles of the coalition? Successive governments have, very rightly, refused to sign the highly partisan CTBT. With India's position as clear as that and when the scientists have finished achieving what they have been working on for so long, what is wrong in conducting the tests? Should we conduct the tests after Pak and China do their aggression? In the past 50 years, India has fought 4 wars. Three of these were started by China /Pak. Flexing muscles to keep aggressors at bay is a discretion of the government; not of such arm-chair critics, who, perhaps, do not believe what they themselves write. Well, the BJP government, as alleged by some of the most selfish and crooked politicians who have been in power in the past, has not claimed credit for this test fully. On the contrary, the PM has gone on record saying that the government does not claim credit. He also has discounted the snap poll rumour started by those jittery politicians of the Opposition. To say the BJP has consistently worked hard to destroy India's image of a country committed to certain values and morals is perhaps the most brazen display of Amberish's capability to take nonsensical views to the hilt. The Hindutva philosophy is the essence of the values India stands for. The Congress and other political hoodlums of the country, by practising double standards, by adopting criminal activities, by bringing the country at the mercy of mafias, goondas and underworld dons, by practising votebank politics, by fanning casteist passions, have consistently eroded the cultural image of the country. Tell me, why are so many thousands of intelligent candidates in the US and other countries, keeping Mother India at heart and enriching her with dollars? Because the ridiculous (now irreversible) reservation policy practised by successive governments have forced them to. Amberish is talking of the Babri Masjid demolition. I condemn it too. But those who raised a hue and cry against the demolition DID NOT say that there was no temple at that place. They said even if there was a temple there centuries ago, in order to keep appeasing the Muslim minorities, no one should try to correct historical wrongs. That would create hatred and ill-will from the minorities towards the majority. But when you talk about reservation, you talk about the need to correct historical wrongs. Those who were believed to have been oppressed for long, are to be ENCOURAGED/PROMOTED, even though they are UNDESERVING at the cost of the so-called forward community, even though they are DESERVING. Secularism or social justice -- these all boils down to votebanks. And those who perpetrate such sins against their own countrymen are those who preserved morals and values. The BJP has been doing just the opposite. A sick joke! People who say this need to have their heads examined, I am afraid! Vajpayee and Advani are not Indira Gandhi who would do anything to retain power. They belong to a different class.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:48:43 -0600 I totally disagree with the author about his saying "the poor of the poorest will be effected." It is a ridiculous argument. They are poor anyway, they will not be effected either way. If at all there are any effects of the sanctions, then it is the middle class and NRIs who would be affected. The BJP has guts to do what it did. Anil
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:51:05 +0300 It STINKS.
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 7:44:55 I do not know where you get these divisive reporters who have nothing but hatred in them. While 91% of the country and overseas Indians feel proud of the BJP-led alliance's action, this reporter has reasons to believe that the BJP is out to get mileage from this action! Well, someone had the guts to do it. Narasimha Rao almost did it but the USA pressured him not to. Rediff should select their reporters on merit and not because they are biased and think that will sell the news to the public. Shame on Rediff! Partisan Diwanji, please do not make Rediff a tabloid.
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 12:02:58 EDT Diwanji wrote: "So what was the rationale for exploding the nuclear bombs at this juncture? What was the great threat that needed nuclear bombs? Who was threatening India? And frankly, now that we have achieved the dubious 'nuclear status,' what really have we gained besides hogging the limelight for 72 hours worldwide? Have we become better off, more powerful, gained international stature?" The dangers to national security from Pakistan and China are not hidden from anyone. The argument that since there is no immediate danger there are no need for bombs is ridiculous. What does he mean by "no immediate danger"? Does he mean that India has not been attacked by nuclear weapons as yet? It would then be too late! Just the notion that India has undeclared nuclear capability is no guarantee. If the scientists were confident of the performance of the weapon without testing, they would not have carried out the tests knowing fully well what the implications are. If the tests weren't necessary to guarantee performance, then advanced countries like the US would not have carried out over a thousand tests. The national security of the country cannot be based on the hope that our weapons might work. We need to be sure about it. The preparations for these tests were set in motion by the administration of Narasimha Rao. But Rao had to back down. Deve Gowda and Gujral did not have the nerve. If Gujral had the nerve he would not have left his country of birth for which he has so much love. He should have stayed back in Pakistan as a Hindu. He would have learnt a few lessons. Gujral who ran from Pakistan with his tail between his legs is now lecturing on "peaceful" relations with Pakistan! What for has Pakistan tested Ghauri and declared intentions for testing Ghaznavi? America has made thousands of nuclear weapons because they believe that these are the best deterrents against war. Why, what is good for the goose is not good for the gander too? Mr Diwanji, India had been slave for a thousand years because it was never prepared for war before. We should thank the BJP for preparing India before a calamity comes. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you know. Vinod Kumar
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:08:50 -0700 You wrote: "So what was the rationale for exploding the nuclear bombs at this juncture? What was the great threat that needed nuclear bombs? Who was threatening India? And frankly, now that we have achieved the dubious "nuclear status," what really have we gained besides hogging the limelight for 72 hours worldwide? Have we become better off, more powerful, gained international stature?" The rationale behind exploding nuclear bombs at this juncture is evident if you were to open your eyes and look at the campaign finance issue that rocked the Clinton boat. The contribution to the campaign came to the Democratic National Party, directly from the daughter of the Chinese army chief. The result: The Chinese acquired sophisticated satellite launch technology. The US may have committed a faux pas doing this, but doesn't the imminent use of this technology by the Chinese mean a potential threat to Bharat? Does that not bother you? But, no, how will you guys who are all involved in the self-flagellation of our nation ever understand that? If one is crooked with sight, he still can be shown light, but what about blind people like you and this other person by the name Jawaharlal Nehru? I don't know if Nehru was playing flute when Bharat burned, but he definitely got burnt in the process. Why? He trusted the Chinese. Within days of his panchsheel yatra, China invaded Bharat. Nothing has changed there since then. They have a more dictatorial government now. How do you trust them now with more potent weapons? So please don't show your ignorance by airing your views on a sensitive issue. You have virtually no takers. You don't have to go overboard in your self-righteousness. Even now in Bharat there are people who can do things without partisan political considerations, Atal Bihari Vajpayee being one such.
Sir, "Kshma shobhati us bhujang (cobra) ko, jis ke pas garal (poison) ho, Don't know whether you would understand -- after all, you people are die hard self-defeatists. Sameer Kuppahalli
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:46:46 -0700 I totally agree with Mr Diwanji. He has portrayed the right picture of the BJP government. At this moment there was no need for such tests, everything was going right for India. I hope the Indian people will understand the cheap political tactics of the BJP and reject them in the next election. Mirza
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 13:45:22 -0700 I do not agree with Amberish's view. This type of criticism is always done with the ruling party, whichever it may be. Pakistan has acquired technology for long range missiles which can hit any part of India. It is a very serious threat. When this technology has been transferred from China to Pakistan, why should not the India government think that China is a major threat? The tests were a a pro-active measure. They will bring both China and Pakistan to the negotiation table.
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 16:54:21 -0400 I'm impressed by most of the views presented in it. But a couple of adverse comments: "It is all right for the middle class and the thousand of NRIs abroad to talk of pride, patriotism, and glory." No, no, no.... I'm afraid that's not the case. Anyway, if one reads the article with an open mind, s/he will find that there's no reason to feel it that way. Nevertheless, I think we provoked our neighbours for sure. Thanks, A novice in international politics or whatever, so never mind!
Date sent: Fri, 22 May 1998 15:51:56 -0500 Your columns are as hypocritical as the USA, the world's godzilla of nuclear proliferation. It sits on a stockpile of 8,000 nukes, used some on populous cities, and proliferated them overtly to the UK and not so overtly to France. Lately, they transfer satellite and rocket technology to China. They turn a blind eye to China's collaboration with Pakistan. All these, comrades like Diwanji don't believe. They also don't believe the cowardly killing of Kashmiri Hindus by Pak terrorists. "Who is threatening India?" asks Diwanji. Is he blind? Doesn't he read about the brutal killings in Wandhama, Prankote etc week after week? Doesn't that bother him? What kind of Indian is he? No wonder India has been enslaved for centuries. With more Indians like Diwanji, Pakistan doesn't need any help from China to strangle us.
T R Rao,
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 13:03:46 -0400 'Why now?' is a very stupid and irrational question. No time is appropriate to conduct a nuclear test. Though it appears that our neighbours are being more friendly, according to Mr Diwanji, it cannot be assumed that they would remain that way, especially upon looking at the steps they have been taking right now. While Pakistan is shooting off new missiles, China is supplying them the technology. So it shows that there is going to be a different situation in the future. We should take appropriate measures right now to contain that development instead of waiting for the last minute. The timing is not haste. It was rather late. Moreover, the CTBT shall soon be ratified and come into force. This was the most appropriate time. What does Mr Diwanji mean when he says that a government which is a coalition cannot make decisions which affect the countrymen for many years in future? Every decision affects the country for all times to come, in economy, in defence, in foreign relations, etc. It's stupid to start thinking that our leaders would start using nuclear weapons against Pakistan to teach it a lesson. Why did we vote them into power if we don't trust them? When we vote a government into power we give it the responsibility to make decisions for us. If we cannot trust them, whom should we trust -- critics like Mr Diwanji who are only capable of making unrealistic sarcasm of the present situation? Sujai Karampuri
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:42:27 -0700 Wake up my friend. India needs to strengthen its muscle and face the consequences one day or the other. India's meekness is proving costly for it. The author appears to be biased against the BJP. We should applaud it without batting our eyelids. The case rests. Makhan
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:04:27 -0500 This is a bullshit article. I wonder if Rediff is posting such articles just to elicit negative reaction. Pathetic! Rajeev |
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