Pak’s N-Arsenal: A Miscalculation Could be Catastrophic
Published: 24th January 2016 06:00 AM
Last Updated: 23rd January 2016 11:15 PM
Republic Day parade is usually preceded by apprehensions of terrorist attacks on that historic occasion. This year, the concern is far greater. First, because of the presence of the French President, who is the chief guest and about whom a terror threat has been received by the French Consulate in Chennai. Furthermore, a new US Congressional report assessing the growing nuclear arsenal of Pakistan makes disturbing reading. The report details a nuclear and missile programme developed largely through theft, stealth, and help from China, which gave Pakistan nuclear weapons design information, and also help from North Korea, which gave it ballistic missile technology. While the report expresses confidence in the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, it goes on to state that even the best nuclear security measures might breakdown because you are dealing with a country (Pakistan) that is under tremendous stress internally and externally. The report states that Pakistan’s nuclear inventory now consists of at least 15 kinds of weapons that are most vulnerable to a heist by extremists or a rogue commander, and most likely to cause a war through miscalculation. It is a chilling thought. The ‘miscalculation’ can have catastrophic consequences. Let us hope and pray that the evil designs of the infiltrators and terrorists are thwarted by our hard-pressed police and security agencies, and the nation’s Republic Day Parade takes place smoothly.
Deepening Mystery about Subhas Chandra Bose’s Death: Anita Bose Pfaff, Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter, is annoyed that instead of accepting evidence, many continue to be excited with ‘asinine’ theories that Bose survived the plane crash in Taipei in 1945 and lived in the mountains as ‘Gumnami Baba’. While she supports the Modi government’s move to release declassified files related to Bose, Anita doubts if it would end the ‘fruitless’ controversy. The mystery is deepened by the website run by Bose’s grandnephew Ashis Ray, which maintains that the testimony of Tan Tri-Ti, who was in charge of issuing cremation permits in Taipei and personally attended to Netaji’s body at the crematorium, should put to rest any controversy about Bose’s last rites. But all these theories fade into insignificance and are overtaken by the release and decoding of 100 files relating to Bose yesterday, which happened to be his 119th birth anniversary. Netaji’s kin were present at the National Museum when the files were released by the Prime Minister. It appears that there are different files under the names of ‘disappearance file’, ‘war criminal file’, ‘Russia link file’, ‘return of ashes file’, ‘Nehru didn’t know file’ etc. At present, we do not know the exact information and the details contained in these files. No doubt the files that are in the public domain will revive and ignite the controversy about Bose’s death. It would be hazardous to come to any conclusion until we have more information and details in the decoded files. It is unfortunate that in a matter of such importance, a controversy about manipulating disclosure of files by the government has been raised by the Congress. One thought which comes to my mind: For God’s sake, why don’t we let Netaji’s noble soul rest in peace?
Intoxicating Ban: Iran’s ministry of culture and Islamic guidance has banned the word ‘wine’ from books to counter a ‘Western cultural onslaught’. One wonders what nexus wine has with Western cultural onslaught. The joys of wine have been eloquently expounded in Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, who incidentally is not a Westerner. The praises of the cup that cheers are immortalised in several books and translations, as also the words, “Ah, my beloved, fill the cup that clears/today of past regrets and future fears”. It is bizarre to ban any and every book which has the word ‘wine’ in it. Our country also has its fill of eccentrics. Haryana minister Anil Vij has opposed the Gau Sewa Commission’s proposal to impose Rs 2 cess per liquor bottle for welfare of cows. Why? According to the Haryana minister, “Bacchus and cows do not go together” just as terror and talks cannot go together. Strange logic. Apparently wine and liquor can intoxicate people’s minds and engender bans.
solisorabjee@gmail.com
Sorabjee is a former Attorney General of India
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