“None can destroy iron but its rust can. Likewise, none can destroy a person but his own mindset can.” – Ratan Tata
National security is a complex issue. It faces dangers more from within than from outside. It is a lesson of history that most often it was the betrayal of one’s own people that led to the fall of mighty kingdoms. Long ago, wise old Chanakya had listed out four dangers to the security of a nation-state. These are: one, aided and abetted from inside; two, aided and abetted from outside; three, emanating from outside and abetted from inside; finally, emanating from inside and abetted from outside. According to him, the last threat was the most dangerous, and it needs special attention of the king.
India faces serious security problems from within. The danger to ‘Iron India’ is more from the ‘political rust’, which is eating it from within. Footfalls of a new terrorist outfit, called TTH (Tehreek-e-Taliban of Hindustan), have become visible in Punjab. The organisation has claimed responsibility for the killing of two policemen in Gurdaspur, Punjab. They were killed in a police post. This is a new dimension to terrorism in Punjab, which was effectively tackled in the early years of the last decade of the 20th century. It is no doubt a clear-cut job of Pakistan’s ISI. It has a twin purpose: (a) Revive separatist movement in Punjab. (b) Generate anti-Muslim sentiments in India.
It is believed that most of the cadres of this organisation are mostly Bangladeshi infiltrators, who have a massive presence in Punjab, courtesy the ruling politicians of Punjab, as a vote bank politics. The vacuum created by the non-availability of labour from Bihar, MP and Jharkhand since the onset of Covid-19 has been filled by Bangladeshi (BDs) infiltrators, who have been provided with voter cards and Aadhar cards. The countryside in Punjab is littered with them. Mosques have sprung up in every nook and corner, where they did not exist in pre-partition Punjab.
Most of Punjab’s youth have either moved to foreign lands or have been infected with drugs, again courtesy Punjab politicians. This led to a scarcity of farm labour and domestic servants. Before Covid-19, this need was satisfied by labour from Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand — now Bangladeshis have taken over
Most of Punjab’s own youth have either moved to foreign lands or have been infected with drugs, again courtesy Punjab politicians. This led to a scarcity of farm labour and domestic servants. Before Covid-19, this need was satisfied by labour from Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand — now Bangladeshis have taken over. Household maids everywhere are Bangladeshi, but masquerading as Indians, under Hindu names.
A demographic shift is taking place in the border areas of Punjab. It is not only due to Bangladeshis but also the extensive conversion programme launched by the vested interests. Dalits of Punjab (31%) are the easy target for this conversion.
So much money is being pumped in by Saudi Arabia and the West that Punjab will lose its basic character. In fact, if the process of conversion was not checked, Punjab would face a Manipur-type problem. In rural Punjab, Christian missionaries are seen luring and enticing village folks reeking in poverty.
So much money is being pumped in by Saudi Arabia and the West that Punjab will lose its basic character. In fact, if the process of conversion was not checked, Punjab would face a Manipur-type problem. In rural Punjab, Christian missionaries are seen luring and enticing village folks reeking in poverty
The rising unemployment level in Punjab had started the migration of youth to foreign lands. Reducing the level of agricultural land and higher education of people forced Punjabi youth to move away from their primary occupation of farming. Governments after governments of Punjab failed to create employment opportunities in disciplines other than agriculture. No efforts were made to industrialise Punjab and create new employment opportunities.
Lack of opportunities led to frustration and anger amongst the youth. The only alternative was to migrate or fight against the incompetence of politicians. This brought in a militancy and insurgency phase in Punjab, thus leading to insecurity and exodus of industry, the only alternative for employment opportunities for youth. This gave opportunity to foreign players to exploit the angry youth. It took hundreds of lives during the decade and a half of the insurgency phase from 1980 to 1995.
The indigenous phase of militancy in Punjab had ended by 1995. Foreign players, like ISI, have been since trying their best to revive it. But three things go against them. Firstly, Punjabi youth are not available for radicalisation in Punjab. There is a big vacuum. Secondly, the harsh experience of the militancy phase deter current youth of Punjab from taking the foreigner’s bait. Thirdly, most of the available Punjabi youth are addicted to drugs, unsuitable for sustained movement.
Terrorist organisations like TTH are being floated to revive militancy and the separatist movement in Punjab. Governments, both Central and state, must take effective steps to nip the evil in the bud. If it was not done, Punjab will again burn, but this time it would be more dangerous
It is in this context that terrorist organisations like TTH are being floated to revive militancy and separatist movement in Punjab. Governments, both Central and state, must take effective steps to nip the evil in the bud. If it was not done, Punjab will again burn, but this time it would be more dangerous. The sanitisation process must begin with double-speaking politicians. There are “dime-a-dozen” available in Punjab. Overdose of democracy must be resisted to ensure national security. Bangladeshis must be driven out of Punjab on a war footing, and conniving government servants who facilitated their voter cards and Aadhar cards ought to be given exemplary punishments. This is the need of the hour.
I conclude this essay with cautionary words of Albert Einstein, who had once quipped: “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil but by those who watch them without doing anything.” The narrow political ambitions of the rulers of India make them ignore the rising evil behind the political curtains. Rules are bent so as to be politically correct to accommodate anti-national elements, in the name of democracy, freedom and secularism. Inaction of the ruler is the mother of the fall of nations and empires!
Appearance of TTH is a warning to the sleepy rulers to act now or be ready to perish forever! Our liberals and democrats should note the words of Martin Niemoller, a prominent German Pastor who had lamented about the Nazis’ rise in Germany: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
