Though dissenting voices concerned over steep decline of plural ethos of India instigated by the incumbent Modi government in Delhi are crying on their demand for action against Major Gogoi, who tied a Kashmiri to the bonnet of a jeep just to display what Amnesty International calls the worst ever act of human rights violation, but Army Chief General Bipin Rawat by awarding a commendation certificate to Major Gogoi for tying the civilian with the bonnet of a jeep endorsed his action which otherwise demands punishment. The action of the army major by all standards of understandabilities could have triggered violent protests in a remote area of Budgam district. Such actions by uniformed men always pose a threat to the atmosphere of peace and security and that too in conflict zone like Kashmir on an election day. The government forces deployed on election duty have to show tolerance but not tend to instigate provocation for maintain peace on an election day. Interestingly Sharad Yadav the Janta Dal (United) leader and a minister of the erstwhile Vajpayee government presently part of Yashwant Sinha’s team of concerned citizens on Kashmir has openly opposed the decision of the army chief to award army Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi and he too has said that awarding the army man facing in-house court of Inquiry (CoI) will lead to escalation of tension in restive Kashmir Valley. In fact the decision to award the army man even before the completion of the in-house court of inquiry (CoI) has attracted condemnation by even international human rights organizations like Amnesty International. Unfortunately the helmsmen in Delhi occupying key ministerial positions in the Modi government are justifying the highly provocative and condemnable action of Major Gogoi. Jammu & Kashmir police saying that FIR registered against the Major Gogoi and investigation orders has not been withdrawn hardly matters when none else than the army chief of the country has awarded the army man and declared his provocative action an act of bravery.
As Major Gogoi is yet to be exonerated by the Court of Inquiry (CoI) ordered by the army itself and the investigation started by police after registering an FIR is yet to concluded, the Defence Ministry keeping in view its supervisory role over the conduct of army in operations should ask the army chief to withdraw his decision on awarding Major Gogoi for an controversial act of provocation on an election day in a remote area of a conflict zone like Kashmir. The Defence Ministry by doing so will sent out a message that India does not bother to act even against army when it comes to the question of the security of the life and property of civilians in any part of the country including Kashmir.
To let justice prevail the the Defence Ministry should ask the army chief to withdraw his decision on awarding the army man for using a civilian as a human shield in a troubled part of Kashmir valley on an election day. As Major Gogoi is yet to be exonerated by the Court of Inquiry (CoI) ordered by the army itself and the investigation started by police after registering an FIR is yet to concluded, the Defence Ministry keeping in view its supervisory role over the conduct of army in operations should ask the army chief to withdraw his decision on awarding Major Gogoi for an controversial act of provocation on an election day in a remote area of a conflict zone like Kashmir. The Defence Ministry by doing so will sent out a message that India does not bother to act even against army when it comes to the question of the security of the life and property of civilians in any part of the country including Kashmir.
