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An unequivocal message

There have been 40 funerals in 16 states.

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There have been 40 funerals in 16 states. The nation is in a state of mourning. The Home Minister held a rare all-party meeting, which reaffirmed political unity in the face of dire adversity. At a public meeting at Dhule in Maharashtra, the Prime Minister advised “sayyam, samvedansheelta aur shok (restraint, sensitivity and grief).” But his advice seems to be getting lost on some of his supporters among the ultra-nationalists. While some of them are whipping up war hysteria, beating their breasts and tearing their hair on live TV debates, several others are virtually tearing apart the soul of the nation by isolating and attacking students from the Kashmir Valley.

The so-called nationalists seem to have forgotten that the Valley is an integral part of our country. The children of the Valley are the children of the nation as much as those from Kerala, West Bengal or Gujarat. In this hour of grief, instead of mourning the losses, being sensitive to the complexities of the situation and showing restraint against the highest degree of provocation, some miscreants are trying to force Kashmiri students out of their rented apartments. There have been reports from various places in north India about attempts to inject communal venom into the veins of agitated villagers and others. Such localised attacks over sub-regional sentiments can soon spiral out of control into a communal conflagration across the country. Our past experiences should make us sober, responsible and cautious.

The CRPF lost 40 men, yet as an institution it has set the highest moral standards for public discourse on the Pulwama attack by setting up a help desk and putting out an emergency telephone number to help Kashmiri students facing distress and harassment. We are a diverse nation speaking different languages, following different local and religious customs with mutual respect, and that lends us a unique strength as a nation. Masood Azhar will succeed in his mission if the Pulwama attack defeats our national spirit. While hitting hard at Azhar and Pakistan’s army-backed political leadership, let us remain united as a society. Also, let our political leaders not mindlessly give the clean chit to the neighbour.

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