Taking forward the Modi government’s proxy war against Pakistan, an RSS think tank on Saturday organised a seminar on Balochistan to assert that India’s stand on it is “not a political position” but “part of its tradition”.
In a major shift in India’s Pakistan policy and also to put pressure on the neighbouring country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had for the first time mentioned Balochistan in the Independence Day speech this year.
At the event, ‘Internal colonisation of Balochistan by Pakistan’, organised by India Policy Foundation, (IPF), a resolution was passed, asking the Modi government to grant political asylum to exiled leader Brahumdagh Bugti, founder of Baloch Republican Party.
Appreciating Mr Modi for “understanding Balochistan’s pain”, Baloch leader Mazdak Dilshad Baloch also thanked external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for “giving strength” to Baloch’s freedom struggle by raising it at the UN. However, president of the World Baloch Women’s Forum, Naela Quadri Baloch could not attend the event due to “technical problems” in her visa.
Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech at the anti-aparthied conference in Brussels in 1927, IPF’s Rakesh Sinha said it is not just Pakistan but organisations like human rights watchdog Amnesty International, United Nations and also the US, which have done injustice with Balochistan and its people. Accusing Amnesty of working with an agenda, Prof. Sinha said the humanrights watchdog tried to make a “hue and cry” on Kashmir but failed to see the brutal killing of hundreds and thousands of Balochs by Pakistan authorities. He said even the UN failed to recognise Balochs. “It was India that finally informed the world that Balochistani people are suffering.”
Asserting that Balochistan is a “free country”, Mr Baloch accused Pakistan’s founder M.A. Jinnah of “back stabbing” Balochistan and also said that Balochistan’s accession request was rejected by the then government in 1948.
“We are proud that India is with us...PM Modi understands our pain. His (Independence Day) speechmade us proud. We also want to thank Sushma Swaraj for mentioning about us in her UNGA’s speech. India has fought for independence and it can relate with our struggle for freedom. Your support gives us strength,” said Mr Baloch.
Author and columnist, Tarak Fatah described Pakistan, where he was born, and said India needs to get out of its “defensive nature”. He also claimed that Mr Bugti had been to India for medical treatment.
Defence expert Maj. Gen. (retd) G.D. Bakshi said the recent surgical strikes by India proved that “sau sunaar ki ek lohar ki (one powerful blow is comparable to a hundred smaller blows”.
In between, slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai-" and -"Pakistan Murdabad” were also heard.
Former diplomat Vivek Katju termed the Baloch issue as the -"unfinished agenda of partition-". A booklet, titled 'Balochistan: What World Needs to Know', was also released on the occasion.
