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| Swaraj's likely visit to Pak a setback to BJP | | PDP, NC in win-win situation | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
srinagar, Dec 5: The upcoming visit of Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan next week is all set to put the coalition partners in the State at opposite ends to each other.
While the visit is being viewed as 'success' by one partner the same is considered as a 'defeat' to the other.
While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would see the visit of Minister for External Affairs as a win of its policy for better relations with Pakistan, Bharatiya Janta Party would consider the visit as a 'setback' to its policy vis-a-vis Pakistan. In other words the visit of Sushma Swaraj is considered as a win for PDP and loss to BJP.
While BJP was in opposition at New Delhi during 2004-2014 they would castigate Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for being 'soft' towards Pakistan. It seems that the party of late has changed its stance with respect to the neighbouring country. The BJP no longer considers Pakistan as an 'enemy' and the forthcoming visit of Minister for External Affairs to Pakistan is a significant rejoinder in this regard.
On the other hand PDP has always been advocating dialogue with Pakistan so that all the outstanding issues are resolved. PDP Patron and the present Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had immediately after assuming power made it clear that 'acrimony' with the neighbouring country is not in the interests of the country.
Ironically the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena or the other like-minded groups have not taken a dig at the BJP's Government to send Minister for External Affairs to Pakistan. Interestingly these groups would not have wasted any time in criticizing the visit if it would have been undertaken by a Foreign Minister belonging to a political party other than the BJP. But for now they are tightlipped over the whole issue.
It is for sure that the visit of Sushma Swaraj to the neighbouring country would dent the 'ideology' of the BJP and the party might pay for it on the national horizon. Not long ago the BJP leaders would cry that the people having soft corner towards Pakistan should go there and settle there as well. Now the same party while holding power at the Centre is sending the Foreign Minister to the same country.
Since there has been very little let up in the firing incidents from across the border one fails to understand the logic behind sending Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan. If BJP wants to develop 'cordial' relations with Pakistan then the party has no moral ground to criticize people who have been advocating for the same over the past few years or so.
The visit of External Affairs Minister to Pakistan has already 'emboldened' leaders of National Conference who are welcoming this step with open arms. One can also say that regional parties like PDP and NC have managed to score a 'win' over a national party BJP with regard to the relationship with Pakistan. |
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