New Delhi: Pathankot martyr Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan EK was cremated with full military honours at his native place Palakkad in Kerala on Tuesday. One more martyr, Garud Commando Corporal Gursewak Singh was cremated at his village Garnala near Ambala in Haryana on Monday. The only earning hand in the family and another martyr Mool Raj was cremated at his native place Jakh village in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. These three are among the seven martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland. They died fighting the Pakistan backed terrorists at Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab. It is a fact that all the martyrs got the customary full military honours at their cremation. But, what is both shocking and surprising is the complete absence of any representative from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet at the funeral of the martyrs. Not a single Central Minister was present at the cremation.
When Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan EK was cremated at Palakkad, the Kerala government was represented by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and some of his cabinet colleagues. The Opposition Left front and some local BJP leaders were also present. But, there was no sign of any Central Minister. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Palakkad MP MB Rajesh of the CPM have described it as shocking development. Speaking to CNN-IBN, they said, "It is shocking that nobody from the Centre is here. PM Modi should have sent a minister as his representative."
The situation was similar at other funerals too. It is a fact that there is no rule that the Central ministers should be present at the funeral of martyrs. The military personnel represent the armed forces as well as the government of India. But it is a matter of courtesy that the Union Government should at least send a minister to funerals.
When it comes to the BJP, it is even more so. Because the ruling party always talks like as if it is the sole custodian of national honour and the protector of our armed forces. When he was Gujarat chief minister and in the run up to the unprecedented Lok Sabha elections in 2014, Modi repeatedly made fiery speeches attacking the Congress for its "lack" of respect for the martyrs. After the dastardly 26/11 attack on Mumbai, Modi led the BJP attack highlighting the inept handling of the entire operation by the then Congress government.
Local BJP ministers and leaders were present at these funerals. Leaders of other parties were also present. The Centre can't hide behind the arguement that the local BJP was present.
During his election campaign, Modi never forgot to mention the name of Indian Armed Forces and how he would teach a lesson to "enemy" Pakistan, after he was voted to power. According to some analysts, most of our armed forces also rallied behind him hoping that he would protect their honour.
After the botched up operations against the terrorists in Pathankot in which we lost seven soldiers, the Central government has suddenly gone silent. Some BJP leaders are trying to defend the government saying that the handling was proper. Union Minister MA Naqvi tried his best to counter the Congress attack. The main opposition Congress which was at the receiving end of Modi till the last election has now launched an all out attack on his government describing the Pathankot operations a huge failure. The Congress has also ridiculed Modi for cosying up to Pakistan which he had called an enemy nation till he became the Prime Minister.
Expressing anger over the Centre not attending the funeral of the martyrs, a retired Army officer said, "Modi fooled us promising One Rank One Pension before elections. What he later gave us is nothing. He has time to attend Yoga camps. But no time even to send a minister to the funeral of martyrs."
Time for the Prime Minister Modi, his Cabinet, the BJP and the RSS to realise "What goes around, comes around".
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