Why no one is saying sorry for denying surgical strikes happened
Some TV stations are broadcasting videos of the surgical strikes. Social media platforms are witnessing a fierce battle.
Video of India's surgical strike against Pakistan released. @sudhiranjansen brings us more on this #ITVideoFor more videos: https://t.co/Nounxo6IKQ pic.twitter.com/qyQsKJTMyP
— India Today (@IndiaToday) June 28, 2018
It's a free for all — gouging, slapping, punching, mostly below the belt. The contest is aimed at proving who is more patriotic. The men shown on the video targeting the enemy are not the focus of anyone involved in this slugfest. They did their job, as they usually do — quietly, professionally, lethally and swiftly.
Supporters of the strike are over the moon, literally. Those who had raised doubts over the strikes are not tweeting or sharing memes for the moment but they will speak up in due course.
With the politics of one-upmanship dominating the narrative these days and with both sides resorting to games where goalposts keep changing do not expect any apologies.
The days of the accommodating politicians and the down to earth ideologues no longer exist.
Caught in the crossfire on social media was, however, erudite and mild mannered Arun Shourie who had described the government's taking credit for the surgical strikes as farzical'.
I never had any doubt on the fact that the strike took place. But to use it for propaganda & to boast about it that 'my chest is 56 inch & I gave a befitting reply to Pakistan', is wrong: Former Union Minister Arun Shourie to ANI on release of #SurgicalStrike video pic.twitter.com/LtJVPKi90K
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2018
People started claiming that Shourie had raised doubts over the strike — a claim far removed from truth. His detractors are not ready to understand that all he was trying to say was that he meant government should not claim credit for a strike conducted by the Indian Army.
While Shourie drew criticism, many other politicians and intellectuals who had raised doubts over the strike escaped without even offering an apology.
Targeting a terror camp or leader would not end terrorism but it does send out a message to countries which harbour terror outfits that "if you come for us, you'll face consequences".
It would have been better if India had not announced the surgical strike as it would have kept Pakistan guessing. The neighbouring country is no position to accept it has terror outfits flourishing on its soil.
The news was splashed across media platforms probably because of the politics of one-upmanship.
But this politics follows no rule, the goalposts keep chaging so naturally no apologies are expected to be coming in.