TALES OF TRAVESTY
DR. JITENDRA SINGH
It is a unique paradox in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. More than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is often the leaders of Kashmir-centric political parties like National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who take pleasure in quoting Atal Behari Vajpayee, even though often wrongly or out of context to add a semblance of conviction to an unconvincing point made by them. And these leaders illude themselves to believe that they have carried the day simply because Atal ji is too indisposed to correct them while his followers or successors find it too absurd to contradict them.
Now here is a sampling of some of the Vajpayee’s famous, or shall we say infamous, ‘‘misquotes’’ made by these over-zealous BJP baiters.
‘‘Insaaniyat Ke Daaere Mein” is one of the most commonly cited Vajpayee expressions quoted by these zealots. Interestingly, those who cite this phrase, which Vajpayee had articulated in his inimitable style during one of his Kashmir visits as Prime Minister, want everybody to believe that this is Vajpayee’s endorsement to resolve the socalled Kashmir issue even if it has to be resolved through ‘‘Azaadi”, ‘‘semi-Independence”, ‘‘Autonomy” etc. What these worthies conveniently forget is that ‘‘Insaaniyat Ke Daaere Mein” is a humane expression which in no way indicates the possibility of an option outside the framework of Indian constitution. Please don’t forget, it was Vajpayee as Prime Minister who had rejected the National Conference’s ‘‘Autonomy” resolution taken up by the J&K Legislative Assembly even though Omar Abdullah was at that time a Minister in his government.
Vajpayee’s famous expression ‘‘friends can be changed not neighbours” qualifies to be included in the World Book of greatest quotations. Very few know that the second line of this Vajpayee quote is ‘‘history can be changed, not geography”. But look how this quote is sought to be cited out of context by Kashmir’s separatist leaders as well as ‘‘separatist-friendly” socalled mainstream leaders as if it is a suggestion that India should unconditionally bow to the diktats of its neighbour Pakistan even if the latter continues sponsoring terror and violence in Jammu & Kashmir. Again, please don’t forget, it was Vajpayee as Prime Minister who gave a free hand to India’s defense forces to rebuff the Pakistan’s mischief in Kargil.
And, most hilariously, some lesser knowing Kashmir enthusiasts even have the cheek to say that Vajpayee had, as External Affairs Minister, opposed abrogation of Article 370. Will somebody educate these wise worthies that Vajpayee was External Affairs Minister in the Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai when Jan Sangh had been disbanded at the behest of Jai Parkash Narain and Bharatiya Janata Party was yet to be born! The only agenda of this dispensation inspired by JP was to liberate Indian democracy from the dynastic rule perpetuated by Indira Gandhi and Article 370 was not even once remotely discussed.
And finally, to the lesser knowing protagonists who use Vajpayee quotes to convince in vain the common man that these were an endorsement of National Conference’s ‘‘Autonomy’’ slogan, Umapathy quotes a long long poem written by Vajpayee referring to Sheikh Abdullah at the height of Praja Prashid movement in early 1950s ‘‘…Kab Tak Jammu Ko Yon Jalne Denge…..Holika Bani Dekho ‘‘Abdullah-Shahi’’!.
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