Kargil - a war that wasn't....

Ten years ago, on this day, India supposedly 'won' a battle. A battle which wasn't technically a battle 'coz it was fought inside India's own territory. Yet, Kargil war was something thats still fresh in the memories of thousands of Indians. Although many of the youngsters of my age do not exactly know what happened in 1999, but I do. When top-notch politicians (read :: Union Minister Shreeprakash Jaiswal) doesn't remember, these youngsters can't be blamed.

Ten years ago, or even some seven years ago, if someone asked me my opinion about Kargil, I would've proudly said, "Yes, India won it. We won it. We defeated the intruders." But ten years down the line, if someone asks me the same question, my answer will definitely be different. That's coz there hasn't been the impact of Kargil war. We haven't gained much out of it. I agree that we were successful in shooing away the infiltrators, but the overall result is just NIL.

Yes, we haven't been able to achieve what we wanted. We wanted a terror-free India and a terror-free neighbourhood, which we haven't been able to get. In fact, we've lost more than we've gained. We have lost 533 brave soldiers. We've lost a hell lot of money.

And what we see today is just some self-proclaimed leaders politicising the martyrs' death for their own personal gain. Look at Congress MP Rashid Alvi. In an interview to Headlines Today, Alvi said he saw no reason to celebrate Kargil victory. "Kargil isn't a thing to be celebrated. The war was fought within our territory. We didn't even come to know when the Pakistani army crossed over and built bunkers inside our territory. It's only the NDA which may celebrate." I think a war is a war. Lets not bias it on the basis of political parties. Any war is fought for a country and not for a political party.

And as I already mentioned earlier, another Congressman and union minister Shreeprakash Jaiswal doesn't remember that 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' falls on 26th July.

Our very own Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can go to France to attend 220th anniversary of Bastille Day, but not a union minister can pay a visit to Kargil on the 10th anniversary of the war. This shows the dull attitude of the government towards those who laid their lives for the country. Can't these bloody politicians just stop playing their dirty political games and pay homage to the martyrs? Will this incident not demoralise the forces? Why would a soldier think of dying for a country just to face such a humiliation?

Although the army will be celebrating the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' on its own right there in Kargil, the Defense minister A K Antony won't be attending it, neither any top minister or official will be there. Antony would be laying wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate in Delhi.

I feel the government has forgotten this war. But they shouldn't forget the war heroes.

My sincere homage to all the martyrs who laid their lives so that I and other fellow Indians can be safe. Thanks a lot....

JAI HIND.... JAI JAWAN....