The writer is a columnist. He is also a former editor of the Mumbai-based English newspaper Mid Day and the Gujarati paper Divya Bhaskar. His book Translating Saadat Hasan Manto’s non-fiction work will be published this year
aakar.patel@tribune.com.pk
Its manifesto says the “BJP believes that the strategic gains acquired by India during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime on the nuclear programme have been frittered away by the Congress.”
And so the BJP will “study in detail India's nuclear doctrine, and revise and update it, to make it relevant to challenges of current times.”
To which the natural response is: shouldn't you have studied it in all these years? And the other thing that occurs to me is that if they haven't studied it how do they know it needs to be revised?
The truth is that the BJP doesn't really need to read something before deciding it is good or bad or sensible.
Indeed, its prime ministerial candidate prides himself on his ignorance of detail and nuance. Narendra Modi told a fawning interviewer he cannot govern through "academics studies (sic)" because reading files is not his thing. It must be his spiritual intelligence or whatever it is that Hindutvawadis have that make them such excellent decision-makers.
A report that followed the publishing of the BJP manifesto said that “revise and update it to make it relevant to challenges of current times” were “words analysts interpreted to mean changing India’s long-proclaimed policy of no-first use of nuclear weapons.”
The report added that “a relook at the no-first use policy would mark a major departure from India’s existing nuclear policy which states that ‘the fundamental purpose of Indian nuclear weapons is to deter the use and threat of use of nuclear weapons by any State or entity against India and its forces. India will not be the first to initiate a nuclear strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail. India will not resort to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against States which do not possess nuclear weapons, or are not aligned with nuclear weapons powers’.”
The last time the BJP reviewed the Indian nuclear programme was within seven weeks of taking office in 1998. The result of their adventurism was that India had its first negative-inflow foreign direct investment year in a long time. Capital is a coward and flees uncertainty. The world freaked out as the BJP burst its crackers.
More dangerously, the BJP handed Pakistan the justification to weaponise its covert program and the BJP gave Islamabad the opportunity to demonstrate its deterrence. This forever lost India its conventional superiority over its enemy/neighbour. We can no longer punish or even threaten to Pakistan for the actions of its non-state actors.
Another thing was that LK Advani was taken aback that Pakistan should have done this. There appeared to be not a thought to what the consequences would be when the BJP’s armchair Napoleons approved the nuclear test.
What the benefit of that test was - except to give Atal Behari Vajpayee the world stage briefly - is difficult to say. The chance for such people to thump their chest is not sufficient recompense for the damage they have caused this country.
The BJP’s manifesto even threatens the nuclear deal made by the Manmohan Singh government, and Modi says he will “follow a two-pronged independent nuclear programme, unencumbered by foreign pressure and influence, for civilian and military purposes.”
This is dangerous ground and history provides us with evidence that the BJP doesn’t necessarily think through things before doing stuff it considers is in the national interest.
When the BJP thinks of such subjects, it usually ends up doing mischief. This is because it is unable to see neighbours objectively. There is an emotional charge that flows along with the Hindutva worldview which sees enemies on every border. It is one reason we haven’t been able to normalize with China though independent studies show that India’s view of that country as being treacherous is rooted in ignorance of the war of 1962.
Given all this baggage and the background, the BJP’s new threats would be called stupidity, if it weren't at the cusp of taking power.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (33)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Rakib: "Like most of the Conservatives & Religious Right in the world BJP-RSS too is not educated enough despite university courses attended by some of its apparatchiks."
Which is unfortunately true for 99% of your country.
@author,
Your article is full of inaccuracies and naivete. One example:
"More dangerously, the BJP handed Pakistan the justification to weaponise its covert program and the BJP gave Islamabad the opportunity to demonstrate its deterrence."
This is a totally ignorant statement. Pakistan had fully assembled nuclear weapons in the mid 1980's itself. The actual bomb test was done in China in the mid 80's, long before the 1998 Pokhran Indian tests. A. Q. Khan himself told highly respected Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar of Pakistan's nuclear bomb capability in 1987. Read: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kuldip-Nayars-book-spills-Pak-nuclear-bomb-secrets/articleshow/14726051.cms
@Anand: Are you saying that Hindus shouldn’t have a country of their own, where they are in majority, if they so desire? . Not at all Anand Ji. I was only pointing out that there are over Fifty Islamic Countries. However, I also would like to add that in Malaysia with two Large Minorites there is no Buddhist Law or Hindu-Sikh Law whereas in - around 1950 - India with 8-10% Muslim Population Content India gave Islamic Law to the Muslims. . As things stand India - despite the feelings of the Hindus - the Indian Hindu Politician be they Congress (especially with Sonia -or other members of her Clan Roman Catholic) or the Other so-called Secularist - Liberals whatever will not allow India to become a Hindu Contry. I also refer you to the case of Nepal. . Cheers
Will Moodi prove to be George Bush of India? I am certain that AlQaeda will be planning their move to draw Moodi into a conflict. A conflict that BJP is ready (nay, eager) to wage.
Mr Patel The fatal flaw in your analysis is you haven't factored in the dramatic change in the geostrategic landscape between 1998 and 2014.
Pakistan is much weaker internally, economically and in the diplomatic arena. It is unraveling on its own, India has nothing to do with it. Pakistan is being propped up artificially, it is much more dependent on foreign aid than in 1998. "Non-state actors" nonsense should stop. That is the only interest India has with Pakistan.
You sound so emotionally unhinged even before Modi takes over as PM, one wonders how you are going to survive next 5 years.lol.
ET censor pls allow my post when you publish articles claiming our next PM to be stupid, etc.
@Naresh
Are you saying that Hindus shouldn't have a country of their own, where they are in majority, if they so desire?
Akar,
Your writings are getting more and more juvenile - seriously. Its one thing to dislike a political party and its another to show ignorance.
Pakistan could not have manufactured a nuclear bomb in 7 days, they already had the one. So India did the right thing although a decade late and did not lose any advantage -in fact it only made the world know the reality of Pakistan's lies on its nuclear status.
Secondly, Pakistan is not the only neighbor of India , we have a bigger threat from a highly armed China -any Indian with a little logic can see that we need to be prepared with enough power to keep them in check
Third, you talk of "normalizing relations with China" - Congress has been in power for more than 60 years. As per you they are not hindutva, so why have they not been able to resolve. In fact, China has issues with almost every major country for decades. I guess all those countries have hindutva !!
You have already lost credibility with your predictable " one topic - all columns" writing. How much farther are you willing to fall to meet your weekly quota.
@Indian: @Naresh:
India has a democracy with hindu mjority and has the right to make it a Bharatya country. But please not by having a french constitution which was developed by the French after revolution to establish Egalitarian system which Islam established thousands of yers before or with the anglo saxon laws which they designed for their colonies centuries ago. Today India has the largest population of illerates and largest number of undernourished children (UNESCO, and has a chronic experience with Rapes(every twenty minutes), and this requires a cultural revolutionary reforms, like the Chines underwent, since you do not exercise any religious constraint on morality. Mr Modi, the BJP current High Priest can give it try,but he has not the right credentials or the record and the USA has even a visa ban for this gentleman. It is a cry in the wilderness even for a twilight zone!
Rex Minor
@Nikki: why bring Vajpayeeji into this in a frivolous manner? Rigidity of Modiji? you will come to know soon. Have patience. It's a virtue!
Lame arguments. Pakistan already had nuclear bomb, the test only made this fact public. India too had bomb but doing the test removed the ambiguity, so it is actually a good thing. Manmohan singh could sign the nuclear deal and get the clearance from NSG only because Vajpai gov. made it de facto nuclear power, otjerwise we would be forced to sign NPT.
@Dr Priyanka: We have the same troubling stories, our forefathers suffered.Our rulers must realise that, there is no need for any adventurism either side. the news are coming from India about Modi's regidity,so the concern is posted.
@Strategic Asset:
Before that, should read Heroshima and Nagaski saga, plz.
@Nikki: Thank you! Your permission was the only thing I was looking for.
@ Indian @if muslims can have islamic republic of pakistan . hindus too can have hindu republic of bharath. . Sir Jee - There are over FIFTY ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. There is no Hindu Country - NOT ONE. . on getting Independence Malyasia had 49% Muslim Population Content. Now the Muslims Population Content is about 60%. About 25% Buddhist and 12% Hindus and Sikhs. . Malaysia is an Islamic Country. India has about 60 to 70% Hindus - According to the The World Almanac Year Book in 2001 India was 80% Hindu.. India cannot become a Hindu Country. According to the same book Nepal has over 90% Population Content. Nepal is also a SECULAR Country. . Mods : Please post my above Comments as I am Quoting AN ALMANAC OF US ORIGIN and not some Hindu Religious Propaganda Source! . Cheers
@Nikki: you are talking about Bajpai now are you? this is the man who came in a bus to Lahore. He was so excited about the trip! and what did we get in return? Vajpayeeji was stabbed in the back in the form of Kargil. We lost so many officers including Captain Vikram Batra. My heart aches now when I think of how angry and humiliated we felt. Nobody in your country can match up to Vajpayeeji's standard. I come from a family of congressis. My grandpa who was a zamindar who used to entertain british officers by arranging hunting trips for them and my uncle fought for independence. He went to prison so many times at a tender age. Grow up Nikki, however painful you might consider it would be! It's time now!
@Nikki: Strange that you do not want any adventurism from India when it has been Pakistan who has been doing all of it for the past 67 years.
Given that Pakistan has done absolutely nothing for the Mumbai attacks, I would welcome any bold steps taken by a BJP government.
BJP's Modifesto is just a political stunt. In real terms Mr Modi and BJP knows nothing about the possible review of nuclear doctrine. Modi knows nothing about nuclear issues rather he is more expert in Minority's Genocide..
Very true. For maintaining the regional strategic balance and to develop friendly relations with neighbours, India or the predictive government coming in to power it would be actually be a prank or stupidity.
I think this time I will vote for Modi just to pissoff the so called "secularists" who seems to have a handle on everything under the sun.
@Nikki: Hoping BJP would not go for any adventure to creat mess in region. Pakistan cannt forget Bajpai’s tone after India nuclear demonstarted in May 1998.
Interesting - assuming that you were not present physically in front of Vajpayee (pls note the spelling for future reference), you must have seen the speech through electronic media. Pls share a relevant link - as far as I know he made no such reference to Pakistan that has caused the entire country to remember his 'tone' for 16 years. His only announcement in May 1998 was related to the Pokhran test and the yield. Here is a link to a longer speech made in parliament where he defends the tests (you can only watch if you have youtube unfortunately). I think you are conjuring up this memory from nowhere - neither you nor Pakistan has any recollection of any such 'tone'.
@ET pls allow the link - at least those who are not in Pakistan can view the speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-DKExBH9mQ
Mr. Patel I read your article sometimes and I feel that your anti-Indian tone wouldn't help you gain much accolades among ET writers. To be true, Indian don't gave a damn to a failed nation second congratulations to all the Pakistanis who live to see yet another day since there is no blast today.
Modi is like an extremist mullah on the other side of the Indian border. Really fanatic sadhu. It does not look good for India. And all the minorities there. Specially the Muslims. They do not like swami Modi.
@if muslims can have islamic republic of pakistan . hindus too can have hindu republic of bharath.
all the foreign policy blunders from Pakistan(Kashmir) China(Aksai-chin),Bangladesh(river water sharing,illegal immigrants and enclaves),Nepal and Sri-lanka has been a legacy of Congress govts.where does the BJP fit in all these achievements.moreover Indian nuclear doctrine has to cover China also, so a revision of no first strike has to be undertaken keeping in view a possible conventional war with China.last decade under UPA foreign policy of India has slipped into an abyss.
Hoping BJP would not go for any adventure to creat mess in region. Pakistan cannt forget Bajpai's tone after India nuclear demonstarted in May 1998.
(To which the natural response is: shouldn’t you have studied it in all these years?)-Author
Like most of the Conservatives & Religious Right in the world BJP-RSS too is not educated enough despite university courses attended by some of its apparatchiks. Pity if it turns out that, to paraphrase Peter Principle, Modi has been promoted by RSS to his position of incompetence.
repeat telecast...
Muslims in India often fall prey to Congress and its un holy allies.Only if the community heads tell thier so called beneficaries to list out what in actual terms they have done for Muslims. The truth is Muslims suffer and continue to be econolically backward becuase od so called secular parties. Creation of Pakistan has not in any case helped minorities.My advice would be join in large nos BJP and smoothen the ultras hold. It will pay them rcih dividends. Modi or no Modi the party would have to listen leaders like Naqvi, Shanawaj ji.
Aakar, you are kidding right? Kejriwal has shown himself to be a petulant and incompetent politician. He joined hands with party he accused of corruption so that he can become the Chief Minister and then he had to be asked to leave his CM quarters or pay Rs. 85000 per month as rent and squandered his mandate in 49 days. His minister was accused of harassing African women who were living in Delhi while undergoing medical treatment. A majority of Kejriwal's candidates will fail including himself and we will be free of him hopefully forever.