[DAWN] WHY do Indian voters need to ink their ballot papers with the blood of Paks?Mrs Indira Gandhi tried this ploy to secure a landslide victory in the 1970s, and succeeded. Mr Narendra Modi repeated the trick, and failed. Gradually, Prime Minister Modi’s bellicosity has revealed the extent to which he will go to retain a majority in the Lok Sabha. He entered India’s parliament first five years ago. He intends not to leave it until at least May 2024, if not beyond, whatever the cost to his country.
His latest ruse ‐ a ’pre-emptive’ IAF attack on Balakot within Pakistain’s territory ‐ may well be his Kargil
... three months of unprovoked Pak aggression, over 4000 dead Paks, another victory for India ...
. He has sought to erase this Himalayan miscalculation by declaring with imperial disdain that he and India are one, aping Mrs Gandhi’s slogan: ’India is Indira; Indira is India.’ Such hubris is costly. A BJP-led coalition may return to power but deny Mr Modi entry into the prime minister’s office.
Ironically, he may have assured Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
a second term as Pakistain’s prime minister, and an extension for Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as COAS. After May 2019, any Indian prime minister will have to deal with the growing sagacity of one buttressed by the iron tenacity of the other.
Napoleon once asked whether a particular marshal was lucky. Prime Minister Modi needs luck and success, and both are eluding him. While his government coerces India’s plasticine press into improbable postures of patriotism, he is being hounded by the opposition. Over 20 significant parties, led by Rahul/Sonia Gandhi’s Indian National Congress, have challenged Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of "blatant politicisation of sacrifices of armed forces by the ruling party". It is an unprecedented indictment, a parliamentary revolt during wartime.