When I see the tricolor fluttering in the wind, I feel a sense of delight, on owning the nation. The saffron, white and green come together to give me an overjoyed pride at the idea of "my nation". It’s an imposing moment when the flag unruffles, the petals of flowers fly in their gaiety and dance to the tunes of the national Anthem, and every time I am a part of this custom I bulge with the immensity of the occasion. So it’s somewhat strange,that a debate whether the tricolor should be hoisted at a busy crossing in Srinagar makes me ponder.
The symbolism of hoisting the tricolor in Kashmir valley is profound, the snow clad shivering valley will soon feel the warmth of patriotism, and it is a symbolic gesture to prove once again that Kashmir is an integral part of the nation. I wish as strongly as I wish to be an uncontested nationalist that I could appreciate these crucial interjections that are made in relation to one of the most fragile
regions of the country. I desire to have a logical, academic discourse with someone who could help me understand the reasoning behind the need of flaming a fire in valley to instigate patriotism, I would wish to dwell into the subject and try to find out why this patriotic bunch whenever in opposition can rarely think of any means but controversial Yatras to instigate nationalism of a kind or other.
regions of the country. I desire to have a logical, academic discourse with someone who could help me understand the reasoning behind the need of flaming a fire in valley to instigate patriotism, I would wish to dwell into the subject and try to find out why this patriotic bunch whenever in opposition can rarely think of any means but controversial Yatras to instigate nationalism of a kind or other.
I am not certain of what can be achieved through the flag hoisting, nor is anybody willing to state why the Indian nation needs two flag hoisting ceremonies in Srinagar to validate its territorial integrity? The only reason I can assume is that the opposition party wishes to undermine the government in the state and portray themselves as the savior of the Indian nationalism. It is a crude stratagem where if the government stops them from hoisting the flag, they cry hoarse about a treacherous government, and if allowed, they would claim that they were the sole representatives of the Indian nationalism in valley. These political nationalist thus see it as a win-win situation without having to own the responsibility towards anything.
The new found love of the BJP towards the tricolor is surprising too, in fact many of these tricolor lovers are those who revere the saffron pennant over the national flag, often express reservation and in innuendos suggest the fallibility of the constitution. To most of these ideologues republic day which marks the acceptance of the constitution is not particularly a day of glorification. The BJP and its fellow ideologues have different symbols of nationalism then those that the government of the country which is directed by the constitution propagates. Thus the present burst of patriotism with the hoisting of the tricolor rather than the saffron on the republic day seems to be a political game plan.
The other issue with the present adamancy of the BJP is the History of its government at the centre. Prime Minister Vajapayee began the process of cease fire with militants in Kashmir, he was the one who talked of Healing touch and contemplated increased autonomy, today the same party criticizes talking to the separatist who publicly abstain from condoning violence, they criticize any attempt at talking a way out of the Kashmir issue, and strangely when in early 2000 the valley was seeing worse time with heavy militancy and everyday killings and regular terror attacks nobody ever thought of an Ekta Yatra to the valley. This needs to be clarified why does the BJP turn into shrill nationalist party whenever in opposition, they have done many harms with their Yatras more cannot be allowed.
Its contemplative time for the nation. Even when the government is busy redirecting trains amidst handling the corruption charges, the BJP needs to understand that they have to be more realistic and measured in their approach to the issues that require careful handling. The years of BJP rules were brilliant times in relation to Kashmir, I always considered the statesmanship of Mr. Vajpayee the reason, I am being hurriedly forced to think it was because there was no obstructionist opposition that posed as a zealot nationalist party than.
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