What do Americans value the most about their nation? Many, if not all, would say Freedom
The quickly changing geopolitical situation after the collapse of communism has led to new equations, especially in South Asia In Bush’s new world order, India is seen to be a willing and eager lackey The recent Philippine experience may have caused the US to look elsewhere to keep its presence in the region This move may prove a great setback to the several freedom movements for millions who comprise the minorities in India Recent reports of Indo U.S defense cooperation can only be viewed with an intense sense of disappointment by the Sikhs, Muslims, Assamese and other minorities in India All the more worrisome is the growing American economic involvement in the now ‘“liberalized”” Indian market It would like to see India “stable” if for nothing else but to protect its investments The truth is that India is more unstable than even the erstwhile Soviet Union which is gradually coming back together, economically The $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout of India at US behest was not without reason More and more US multinational companies are queuing up to enter the huge Indian ‘market Even Coca Cola, which was unceremoniously thrown out of the country in the late 1960s, is back Risks in business ventures are understandable and often necessary But risks for short term economic gains invariably fail as political ventures They cannot out prove counterproductive The US experience in South America, Philippines and several Asian countries has been such
India is not a democracy It embodies all that a democracy should not be In the 45 years since the British left, the standard of living has gone down, malnutrition and illiteracy are the rule not the exception for the vast majority It is in the corrupt rulers interests to contribute in keeping the people downtrodden and ignorant Political leaders have amassed incredible fortunes in Swiss banks from siphoning off western aid and in massive fraudulent arms deals This ill-gotten wealth is their power base not the will of the people The election “victory” of the Indian Prime Minister last week by half a million ‘votes, the “largest margin” ever in the whole world was entirely due to rigging according to even Indian newspaper reports Musclemen ensured that all the votes were cast in favor of their benefactor.
Whatever resources remain are spent on nuclear arms technology and on one of the largest standing armies For the last two decades this army has served in Punjab, Kashmir and Assam, raping and looting what India claims are its own civilians Nine divisions are currently patrolling the Punjab countryside the reason put forward is that the army will ensure peaceful elections in February next year
It is also deployed in Kashmir and Assam to search houses of civilians. The army is out to crush the legitimate struggles for survival and freedom of these people
Of the thousands of documented cases of police torture, deaths and rapes in custody and ‘other excesses by the security forces, not one Indian official has been tried far less punished Human rights organizations like Amnesty International are not allowed in and those that exist within the country are sought to be silenced in the manner used by all totalitarian regimes state terrorism.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 29, 1991
