archive: Of leader, Party and Nation (Question and Answer with Jaya
Of leader, Party and Nation (Question and Answer with Jaya
Lalita Panicker
The Times of India
July 15, 1999
Title: Of leader, Party and Nation (Question and Answer with Jaya
Jaitly)
Author: Lalita Panicker
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 15, 1999
Having lived from 1965 to 1977 in Kashmir, Samata Party general
secretary Jaya Jaitly has a particular attachment to the remote
mountain regions where India is fighting a bloody war to reclaim its
terrain. Variously a craftsperson, a writer and trade unionist, Jaya
Jaitly's most contentious avataar has been her political one.
Defending her party's leader and defence minister George Fernandes for
his many controversial statements has made her task all the more
difficult. As the guns fell silent in Kargil for the first time in
months, Jaya Jaitly spoke to Lalita Panicker about the Kargil crisis,
misperceptions about Mr Fernandes and the BJP alliance.
Q: In agreeing to a virtual ceasefire at a time of Pakistan's
choosing, has the government frittered away its military gains against
that country?
A: Pakistan has taken a double beating. Militarily they did not expect
such a determined and valiant response from us. They did not expect to
be so isolated internationally. They caved in earlier than we expected
proving that all their talk is bravado and misrepresentation.
Q: India's magnanimity has been taken advantage of in the past, do you
think it will happen again?
A: We are committed to the Pakistanis going back dead or alive. If
someone is retreating in defeat, you cannot attack them. India has
been restrained as we have no points to prove beyond defending our
territory. We have shown that no one can walk all over us. Pakistan's
doubles-peak has been exposed. Nawaz Sharif saying one thing there and
another thing to us has led to a total erosion of his credibility.
Q: Mr Fernandes's statement on safe passage to the intruders has
angered many people. Do you not think this was an inappropriate remark
when our soldiers were in the thick of hostilities?
A: He was asked a hypothetical question about whether safe passage
would be allowed and he said yes. Our jawans were in no way affected
by his remark. They are not concerned with newspaper commentary, they
were happy to have their minister by their side.
Q: Is it true that owing to his gaffes, Mr Fernandes has been asked to
keep quiet while the battle is on?
A: No, this is a self-imposed silence. He is disturbed about the spin
put on his statements. He is in the forward areas. All this
controversy is being created by the opposition which wants to
discredit the government while supporting the jawans. This is
undemocratic and anti-national in a country where civilian authority
is supreme.
Q: Let's talk about the opposition k role. It has been critical of the
way in which the government handled the situation.
A: The Congress and the Communists have shown by their pronouncements
that they have one eye on the elections. The leadership, particularly
that of the Congress, cannot think beyond photo opportunities. They
are completely bereft of statesmanlike qualities. Sonia Gandhi who
cannot string together two sentences can hardly expect the confidence
of the people when she questions the government. The communists who
are trying to equate India's humiliation at the hands of China with
the present situation are displaying their utter confusion when it
comes to policy.
Q: How does your party and government of which it is a part explain
this intelligence failure which necessitated military actions and the
loss of so many lives?
A: The intelligence systems were put in place during previous
governments. This practice of moving down from the mountain heights
every winter has been on for the last 27 years. Pakistan saw that the
situation in Kashmir was normal, support for militancy had dwindled
and it could not afford that.
Q: But your party's leader absolved the Pakistani government of blame
for the action.
A: He said the Pakistani army planned and executed this aggression. He
did not absolve the government. But we were prepared for this. The
terrain is hostile and many areas are not manned by pickets and posts.
We have to rely on local intelligence.
Q: You have been very critical of the human rights violations by the
Indian army in Kashmir. Have you changed your stance?
A: The army behaved very differently in the sixties there. It is now
engaged in development work and has changed a lot.
Q: Do think this wave of patriotism, of-ten bordering on jingoism, we
are witnessing today is a healthy sign?
A: Information technology has brought the war into homes. Feelings of
patriotism have been heightened. But in past wars too such feelings of
patriotism were evident. Women gave jewellery, tied rakhis on jawans.
Now we think it is stylish to say we are global citizens, that we
don't care about the country. The poorest of the poor have given more
than all the elite. The poor are not cynical, they are filled with
patriotism and idealism. Patriotism was subverted by the Congress with
its silly mera bharat mahan slogans and freedom runs. People become
cynical if you go running in Gucci shoes as Rajiv did. The media has
shown the kind of terrain and the valour of our soldiers.
Q: Do you no think that we triggered off the nuclearisation of South
Asia. It certainly does not seem to have brought about the stability
it was meant to.
A: We did not trigger this off. The Pakistanis were ready with their
bomb. If the big five can be trusted with nuclear weapons, why not us.
This smacks of racism.
Q: Now that Kargil looks like it will be over soon, the uncomfortable
questions are going to begin. What is your plan of action?
A: For each uncomfortable question the opposition asks, we have even
more uncomfortable ones for them. Why have they kept quiet about the
huge amounts of territory the Chinese took from us. In the other wars,
under the Congress, we returned all the captured territory. We have
not only repulsed the Pakistanis but in the process won huge
international support.
Q: So you are not averse to internationalising the Kashmir issue?
A: We did not seek support, if some one wants to support us, we
welcome it. The Americans are dealing with the Pakistanis, not us.
Q: The government appears bent on politicising Kargil. Do you approve?
A: The government has correctly gauged the mood of the people. The
Congress under the Italian lady has failed to understand the
manifestation of pride in the country at all levels.
Q: Sharad Pawar's reservations on Sonia Gandhi seem similar to yours.
Do you see him coming closer, even joining the BJP led alliance?
A: Last year, the Samata Party sought an amendment to the effect that
the President, vice-president and Prime Minister should be natural
born Indians. When MNCs are chipping away at our economic sovereignty,
no one should be allowed to subvert our national interest. Sharad
Pawar will not want a situation where the Congress led by Sonia will
come to power, he will move in our direction. Please also note that
during all this crisis the Muslims have faced no threat at all.
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