On Friday, as soon as the news of Ram Rahim being convicted began to spread, followers of Dera Sacha Sauda took to the streets of Haryana resorting to rampant lawlessness, destruction of property and arson (as also in Punjab, which went relatively unreported for mysterious reasons).
Further, as news of the developing crisis in Haryana’s Panchkula town began to spread, a number of highly secular and eminent liberals began baying for blood. Number 1 among them is of course Former J & K CM Shri Omar Abdullah who had this to say:
There were several others who appeared to mirror these views : among them Nidhi Razdan, Congress leader Pawan Khera, controversial journalist Barkha Dutt, etc.
It should be noted that the above are merely representative examples. A larger collection of this bloodsoaked whataboutery of the secular brigade may be found here. Here is another glimpse of the bloodthirst from a CNN News 18 journalist :
But the administration in Haryana did not pamper the goons with pellet guns and chilly grenades or whatever. Instead, it seems CNN News 18 journalist Mufti Islah got the 30 dead bodies and 100s of injured that he was salivating for.
Congratulations Mufti yaar! Party to banti hai, right?
Here is the approach that Haryana Government took towards stone pelters (Warning : Graphic … may be very disturbing)
No pellet guns here. Appears to be a direct shot to bring down the stone pelter. (No chilly grenades here either. Firm action, rather late) pic.twitter.com/3h7o4m0uD2
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) August 26, 2017
If you look closely, you might notice that it is not a pepper bomb. It is a shot that strikes the stone pelter dead.
You might also notice that peace has been established in Panchkula town since yesterday. No fresh violence, no fresh shoot-at-sight by the law enforcement agencies.
The secular brigade was peddling a fake victimhood narrative about the Indian state giving preferential treatment to Sikh and Hindu mobs. However, facts establish beyond all doubt that the Indian state acted harshly in defense of law and order. Much more harshly than anything we have seen in Jammu and Kashmir.
Liberals got much more than they asked for : it wasn’t pellet guns, but real guns that were turned on the Ram Rahim’s supporters.
Now that liberals have got their 30 dead bodies, may I ask a question?
In every tragedy, there is an opportunity to learn and plan better for the future. Hasn’t the “Panchkula model” shown that taking firm and lethal action against unruly mobs can swiftly bring an end to violence?
Shouldn’t we be trying this in Kashmir?
After all, the violence in Panchkula lasted barely for a few hours. Because stone-pelters were shot dead, wherever they stand.
So the next time there is stone pelting in Kashmir, perhaps the Army should just take aim and fire straight at the goons with real guns. Who knows, maybe that way peace can return to Kashmir in a couple of hours?
And I am sure everyone wants that.
Imagine the amount of men, material and resources we have pumped into trying and solving the Kashmir problem! Imagine! Perhaps all this time the real solution was right in front of us : Army & Police shooting stone pelters in the head.
After decades of violence, the “Panchkula model” might have come as a ray of hope for Kashmir. It’s worth a try at least, is it not?
