Spirit of nationalism grips Amritsar

It is a clear manifestation of true love towards one's country in the hour of testing. The people in Amritsar district are not behind any other countrymen when it comes to defend the nation from any eventuality of war. Though many of them have shifted their families and belongings to “safer places” they are ready to repeat their tradition of helping in all possible ways, if war was to break out in this sector forgotting the past.

The spirit of nationalism has eclipsed the bitter memories of 1984 when Army conducted “Operation Bluestar” to flush out militants in the Golden Temple and the subsequent controversial “Operation Woodrose” to track down militants in these border areas. After securing their womenfolk, elders, children and cattle, the younger and able-bodied villagers are back and assure all possible help and assistance to the Army.

Khem Karan and Bhikhiwind were referred to as the “Capital of Khalistan” in the heydays of militancy. The people of the area witnessed violation of their rights by the militants and alleged oppression by the security forces. While the memories of the days of militancy have taken a backseat, it is the fear of the repeat of 1965 war that haunts the people. Despite the 15th anniversary of “Operation Bluestar” having been observed earlier this month, the memories of the episode do not seem to have hampered the morale of the people.

Jathedar Bord Singh and his friends Dayal Singh and Virsa Singh echo the overwhelming opinion that the incidents of 1984 would have no bearing on the minds of the people in extending cooperation to the Army, by saying that in the present hour, such incidents could not be remembered. “Those were bad days and some incidents were really unfortunate. Memories of Bluestar and subsequent Army action in our villages still hurt us. But this is a moment of national crisis, if we fail the Army now, history would never forgive us for betraying the brave sons of the motherland”, they say.

“If war breaks out, we shall keep up our tradition and provide food for the jawans of the Army, who would be fighting for the motherland. We shall feel honoured if the Government gives us weapons — we shall fight along with the jawans and teach the Pakistanis a bitter lesson for violating our territory,” asserts Jathedar Bord Singh.

Similarly, Mohinder Singh, a farmer, says, “Army jawans would always carry out the orders. Bluestar was not their doing. Some people created conditions and others used the opportunity to promote their politics. We cannot avenge the faults of those people by betraying the Armymen, who are already making sacrifices in Kargil”. He says it was time for the people of the country to stand up and match the courage and commitment of the Army which faces a “very devious enemy”.

Some people were seen taking offence to queries hinting at that people had fled because they had become more materialistic. “We have only secured the safety of our families and belongings. Is that supposed to be an act of cowardice of selfishness? We are back here to be of any help to the country and its brave soldiers,” says Satwant Singh of Valtoha village, from where large number of families had moved out.

Says Harbans Singh in Khem Karan, “we faced difficult times during militancy and had to flee our hearths during Operation Woodrose. But during 1965 war our houses were under occupation of enemy forces for nine months. Then in 1971, we had to stay away from our homes for four long months. During militancy, we managed to save our belongings, but in the two wars everything was lost”.

“Operation Bluestar and the present crisis are two different situations, which warrant different reactions. We identify those responsible for Bluestar and these Army jawans are sticking their neck out for our safety and defence — we clearly understand this”, says a village elder at Ghariala. He says that it would be treacherous to seek revenge from the Army, which is fighting for the country, for a sin committed by someone else.

It was noteworthy that none of the people blamed the Indian Government for the present crisis. “The entire Punjab, especially we living here, are fully conversant with the deceit that Pakistanis have been resorting to time and again. How can we tolerate that someone transgresses into our territory? How can they justify their demand for peace when they have occupied a piece of our land”? asks Satnam Singh.

The young martyrs of Kargil

Captain Amol Kalia, 25 and his men laid down their lives in a gallant operation against Pakistan-backed intruders in the Batalik sector on June 11.Capt. Kalia's 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry battalion had recently completed its tenure on the world's highest and most expensive battlefield in Siachin and was being moved to Delhi, a peace posting where it would rest, recuperate and train for the next couple of years.

But fate had something different in store. The battalion was recalled within a few days of landing in Delhi Cantt after hostilities broke out in the Kargil sector as its members was already “acclimatised” to high-altitude operations.On June 11, the young officer, showing exceptional courage, led a team of soldiers and para-commandos and evicted the enemy from a key position in the Batalik sector, killing 25 Pakistanis in a seven-hour operation.By dislodging the well-entrenched enemy in a number of field fortifications Capt. Kalia and his 13 soldiers, made the supreme sacrifice while his team managed to reach the top under heavy firing from all sides.

Lauding the efforts of Capt. Kalia and his team, the Defence Ministry spokesman, Colonel Vikram Singh, said: “But for the selfless devotion to duty marked with exemplary courage displayed by these gallant soldiers, the recapture of this vital position would not have been possible”.

A few officers described Capt. Kalia as a handsome, friendly and fun loving person who had a standard request to all bachelors he met during his short stint in Delhi — “get me a few friends”.

“He weanted a few friends, but now the entire nation is his friend and is grateful to him for his sacrifice for the nation they say”. The nation salutes you and your great heroes, Captain.

Mughal monument being demolished

Demolition work has begun on the filtration plant of the Shalimar Gardens in the old city of Lahore as part of a road widening project. This is believed to be the only surviving Mughal period water system in the region.

The 17th-century filtration plant, comprising three water reservoirs, one over the other, stood in ruins and was not visible to people travelling on the Grand Trunk Road because of a high wall in front of the Shalimar Gardens' main entrance.

Demolition squads used bulldozers to demolish the 357-year-old plant which Shah Jehan's engineer Ali Mardan Khan had built at the head of a canal dug from the Madhopu headworks on the Ravi, now in India.

The canal water used to be stored in the lower-most pond. From here water used to be pumped up to the upper reservoirs and purified in another pond.

The plant is to many experts a monument to Ali Mardan Khan's skill as a water works engineer. It was the only evidence left of how the Mughals arranged to supply clean water to their buildings.
The Archaeology Department tried to prevent the plant's demolition but an official's plea that bulldozing a protected monument could not be done without prior permission of the department's director-general went unheard.

The Punjab government plans to remove the plant and some encroachments, including the Baghbanpura police station and MCL's zone two offices, to widen the G.T. Road by another 50 feet.

The Lahore Conservation Society has condemned the pulling down of the water reservoir.
Society secretary Ajaz Anwar said in a statement that the threat to the plant, a protected monument, was pointed out to Punjab Governor Shahid Hamid who had promised to instruct the Divisional Commissioner of Lahore not to bulldoze the unique filtration plant.

Anwar said the demolition was illegal as the Metropolitan Corporation had no authority to damage an archaeological site

Martyrs inspire Gorkha youth
The body of Havildar Man Bahadur Rai, who was killed in Kargil recently, was received by Army officials with full honours at Bagdogra airport. Man Bahadur Rai of 11 Gorkha Rifles, is survived by his wife Latika and three children. Last week, the body of another martyred Gorkha soldier, Linchu Pradhan, was cremated in the Darjeeling hills. Report says hundreds of Gorkha youths, inspired by Pradhan and Rai have been thronging the local Army recruitment centre in hope of enlisting.

Hero Hardeo
Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi handed a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh to Munni Devi, the widow of Hardeo Prasad of the Bihar Regiment (Danapur), who died in action in Kargil. The cheque was presented by her in Prasad's native village of Kukur Har in Nalanda district. Munni Devi has also been promised a job in the district collectorate. Brig. D. K. Mohan of the regiment handed over Rs. 14,000 to the widow for Prasad's last rites. The family is to receive Rs. 13.5 lakh as compensation from the Centre.

Women power
Over 100 women demonstrated around Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi to express their solidarity with soldiers deployed at Kargil. They appealed to their Pakistani sisters to pressure the Nawaz Sharif Government to withdraw the intruders. "There may be forces that seek to benefit from such hostilities, but as women we know that in a war between neighbours, there are no winners," they said.

Imam calls
Delhi Imam Association president Sajid Rashidi said that the Imams were willing to go to Kargil and face the enemy to convey the message that all Muslims in India are angry at the way Pakistan has violated all norms of human dignity and all pacts to encourage incursions across the LoC. He recited an Urdu couplet that said Indians were not afraid of war with Pakistan, which had time and again tested the patience of the people of this country.

J & K compensation
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. two lakh and a job to the next of kin of defence personnel of the State who have died during the ongoing conflict. The State has already lost three Army personnel in Operation Vijay. Four State ministers have been deputed to border districts by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to coordinate between the residents of border villages and government agencies, and to build confidence, neutralise rumours and prevent panic-induced migration.

Prisoners' offer
Over 700 inmates of Beur central and Phulwarisharif camp jails have in a signed letter to Bihar's IG Prisons volunteered to donate blood for defence personnel injured in the ongoing conflict.