We have a choice: Letter written by Navjot Singh Sidhu

Chandigarh, 27th Feb: We have a Choice. On both sides of the border, tacticians are planning for the worst. They must think the worst of one another, because only in thinking the worst, do they believe that they can protect and defend. But this belief is a mirage. Fear has been among us these last days, an unwelcome guest. Fear of terror, fear of death, fear of vulnerability and fear of the feeling of vulnerability.

For some, there is no cause left to fear – their fears have all come true. I have seen the pain of our nation etched on the faces of the families of our martyrs. Fear breeds fear. Fear of dialogue, fear of a new conversation, fear of thinking differently, of seeing differently, fear of ideas that challenge those at the top. Fear is the dark room in which negatives are developed. It is easy to think the worst of the other, but it does not make us safer.

I stand by my country. I am the son of a freedom fighter, and the true test of my patriotism is courage. I stand against the fear that keeps many of us silent. I stand by my deeply held principle that a community cannot be blamed for the actions of a few. A sentiment our Prime Minister echoed, when he said ‘Our fight is against terrorism and enemies of humanity. Our fight is for Kashmir not against Kashmir, not against Kashmiris.’

A sentiment our External Affairs Minister shared, when she said “Our fight is not with Pakistan, our fight is with the terror establishment.” I stand by my conviction that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for a great deal in seeking a long-term solution to the presence and practice of terror outfits that operate within and across the border. The solution to terror is peace, development and progress. Not unemployment, hatred and fear. 

No son of our soil should be separated from his loved ones as Abhinandan is today. An escalation would mean many more incidents like this. Irreparable loss and both nations going to a point of no return. The words of Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ring true: “Our objective should be to firmly deal with terrorism and its sponsors, financiers and arms suppliers. At the same time, our doors should always be open for processes which would restore peace, development and progress to societies which have been devastated by terrorism over many generations.” Shri Vajpayee could speak like this even after Kargil.

Let us be patriots, with love for our country. Let us not use the label of ‘nationalist’ to glorify ourselves and ‘anti-nationalist’ to place ourselves arrogantly above others. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Is hatred essential for nationalism?" A patriot stands against fear. I stand against the managed discourse that stifles dissent and must rely on cyber armies, trolls and goons to silence debate. I stand against the fear of those who know that their only power is in fabrication and fakery.

I stand against the fear that killed Gauri Lankesh. Rohith Vemula. Gobind Pansare. M M Kalburgi. Najeeb? ASI Ravinder Singh. It is choice, not chance that will determine our nation’s destiny. We can choose to be patriots. To ask what kind of nationalism this is that turns Indian against Indian. Fear has been among us these last years, an unwelcome guest. But we have a choice. That choice is courage. Courage is contagious.

-Navjot Singh Sidhu
Cabinet Minister, Punjab