Striking a discordant note

The ‘ceasefire’ between the NDA government and the opposition parties in the wake of the Pulwama attack has proved to be short-lived. Both camps are well and truly back in the election mode, taking swipes at each other and resorting to political grandstanding. On Wednesday, 21 parties — including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, TDP, BSP and Left outfits — expressed resentment over the ‘blatant politicisation’ of the sacrifices of the armed forces. They stopped short of naming the ruling party (BJP), but complained that the Prime Minister had not yet convened an all-party meeting to discuss the prevailing security situation. 

A day later, PM Narendra Modi hit back at his detractors during a nationwide interaction with BJP workers via videoconferencing. He alleged that some selfish people disliked a strong government, while yet again dismissing the proposed ‘mahagathbandhan’ of opposition parties as ‘mahamilavat’. Earlier in the week, Modi had targeted the Gandhi family during the inauguration of the National War Memorial, accusing previous Congress governments of forsaking national interests and giving priority to the family instead of the country.

The PM’s assertion soon after the Balakot airstrike that the country was in safe hands and he would never let it down was perceived as an attempt to personalise a military success. It’s regrettable that both the NDA and the Opposition are goading each other into making political, over-the-top statements. The worst instance is BS Yeddyurappa’s statement on the BJP’s electoral advantage due to the airstrike. Even though the General Election is fast approaching, this is not the right topic for our leaders to indulge in a slugfest. Such discord will give the neighbour an opportunity to question the BJP-led government’s intentions and play the ‘victim’ card to the hilt. The edge gained by India courtesy the airstrike and the diplomatic onslaught should not be frittered away. The defence forces, which are in a state of high alert, can certainly do without the distraction caused by political bravado. Unity in adversity is the need of the hour. At stake right now is the nation’s security, which must not be compromised at any cost. The electoral battle can be fought another day.