UK TO ADOPT A HARD LINE ON TERROR

Few will remember the Gandhi-Tagore differences over the Bihar earthquake. Tagore wrote to Gandhiji on 29th January 1934...

“Dear Mahatmaji, The press reports that you in a recent speech referring to the recent earthquake in Bihar spoke as follows, ‘I want you, to be superstitious enough to believe with me that the earthquakes is a divine chastisement for the great sin we have committed against those who we describe as Harjans’. I find it difficult to believe it. But if this be your real view on the matter, I do not think it should go unchallenged. Herewith you will find a rejoinder from me. If you are correctly reported in the press, would you kindly send it to the press? I have not sent it myself for publication, for I would be the last person to criticise yours acts. I am looking forward to meeting you here. With deep love,

Yours as ever, Rabindranath Tagore specially selected for his desolating displeasure. It is all the more unfortunate view of things is too readily accepted by a large section of our countrymen. I keenly feel the iniquity of it when I am compelled to utter a truism in asserting that physical catastrophes have their inevitable and exclusive origin in certain combination of physical facts. Unless we believe in the inexorableness of the universal law in the working of which God himself never interferes, we find it impossible to justify his ways on occasions like the one which has surely stricken us in on overwhelming manner and scale……” The Poet was no match for the Mahatma. Gandhiji response was devastating. I did not in any way adversely affect the affection and respect each held for the other. They were born in same decade 1861- Tagore, 1869- Gandhiji. The two died in the same decade, 1941-Tagore, 1948-Gandhiji. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

THE FIRST TIME I MET PERVEZ MUSHARRAF...

While all Hindus acknowledge the religious importance of a cow, to hug the animal as a celebration of love on Valentine’s Day was laughable. And that is what it led to --- a flurry of memes ridiculing the Cow Hug Day idea. The online backlash and the meme fest which followed pushed the Animal Welfare Board of India on the back foot. The board did not realise that for all its docility the humble cow can at times hate any public display of affection. At times it can also turn aggressive without any attempt at flirtation. After becoming a butt of jokes, the board withdrew its appeal following directions from the government. Congress general-secretary Jairam Ramesh pertinently asked, “Who moo-ted the idea in the first place.” The idea was backed by Union minister Parshottam Rupala who said that it will be good if people respond positively to the call given by the board to celebrate February 14 as Cow Hug Day.

Spiritual Speak

Britain’s counterterror policy review is of special interest to India.

In a recent independent review of Britain’s counter-terrorism programme “Prevent”, it was recommended that the country should refocus on the threat posed by Islamist militants, including “non-violent Islamist extremism”. It made a clear distinction between Islam and Islamism, which is also called Islamic fundamentalism. The review recommended, “Challenging extremist ideology should not be limited to proscribed organisations but should also cover domestic extremist organisations operating below the terrorism threshold who can create an environment conducive to terrorism.” This was stated in the context of the UK. Britain’s

Britain’s counter-terror policy review is of special interest to India. In a recent independent review of Britain’s counterterrorism programme “Prevent”, it was recommended that the country should refocus on the threat posed by Islamist militants, including “non-violent Islamist extremism”

Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman is reported to have said that Prevent will now focus on “the key threat of Islamist terrorism.”

The review also took into account the anti-India propaganda by radicalised British Muslims over Kashmir and “potentially toxic” pro-Khalistan extremism. India recently raised the issue of Islamists’ rhetoric on Jammu and Kashmir and pro-Khalistan elements and urged Britain not to allow its soil to be used by extremists.

The first time I met General Pervez Musharraf, when he came to Delhi as President of Pakistan. He was staying at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and I called on him. When Sonia introduced me to him, his reply surprised me, “I know Mr Natwar Singh. I attended a lecture he gave at the Pakistan Defence College in Islamabad.” His family belonged to Delhi. They left for Karachi in August 1947. Pervez Musharraf was four year old. After finishing his education, he joined the army, rising rapidly and rose to become Army Chief. I re-read his autobiography after his death in Dubai, early last week. He was a better Head of State than an author. The chapter on Kargil is more fiction than fact. The photograph below was taken at his residence in Rawalpindi. Apart from the President and me, the others are Pakistan Foreign Minister, Kasuri, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Shivshankar Menon, our High Commissioner in Pakistan. He was every inch an army man. Even his critics would concede that Pervez Mussarraf had a presence.

The review of Prevent and Braverman agreeing to its recommendations will please India which has suffered a great deal because of Islamist and pro-Khalistan extremism.

On J&K the review said there’s “evidence of UK extremist groups, as well as a Pakistani cleric with a UK following, calling for the use of violence in Kashmir” and warned that “Prevent should also be mindful of pro-Khalistan elements emerging from UK’s Sikh communities”. Both the recommendations bolster India’s fight against terrorism as Braverman has assured the House of Commons that she proposes to “swiftly implement” all the recommendations.

For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Bible

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