Modi loses referendum

First things first, Aam Admi Party led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set for a hat-trick victory in India's capital's election. "The New Delhi election," according to NDTV, "is being seen as a test of Modi's popularity following month of deadly nationwide anti-government protests against a new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that saw thousands of people take to the streets daily in the capital and across India."

Given growing rejection of Modi establishment's moves to revoke Occupied Jammu & Kashmir's special status and enactment of anti-Muslim citizenship law, India is set about diverting its people's attention from internal issues. Indian army chief had claimed capturing Azad Kashmir if allowed by parliament and according to Narendra Modi's bluster, India can defeat Pakistan in a matter of week or so. Firstly, it is beyond India's military capability to defeat Pakistan, but to say so with loud mouth tends to suggest that Narendra Modi has lost his marbles. To figure out repercussions the Indian bluff has earned Prime Minister Imran Khan's rejoinder at the Mirpur rally on Thursday merits repetition. "Narendra Modi, the statement you gave on this country, and the Indian army chief ... you already committed a folly six months ago out of haughtiness and if you commit the next one, just remember, every citizen of this 200 million-strong nation, down to the last child, will fight till their last breath... . We will fight and we will show you how we can fight." Almost coincidentally, the country's military top brass pointed out that "provocative statements of Indian leadership are irresponsible rhetoric with implications for the region. Pakistan Armed Forces are forces of order and peace and fully prepared to thwart any misadventure, whatever the cost". Simply stated, Pakistan has told India in most clear terms that if it wants war it would find Pakistan ready to meet that challenge, and the world must not lose sight of the ground reality that the future war between the two would be a nuclear holocaust. New Delhi is sadly mistaken if it believes its false flag venture would remain localized; it would be the opening for a far wider conflict, with Pakistan defending itself with whatever it has in its arsenal. It would be a nuclear clash and direly apocalyptic given that both sides have acquired second strike capability. And should that be the case, the entire anti-nuclear infrastructure built over half a century will collapse like a house of cards.

The Indian establishment may have political compulsions to externalize its domestic challenges as its leadership's recent statements suggest. But in Pakistan that is not the case - the entire polity is united to fight back Indian aggression. In last six months, the United Nations Security Council has discussed the Kashmir issue at least twice. It is also heartening to note that Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) is likely to take it up at the upcoming Foreign Ministers Conference. That call in support for Kashmiris' rights in non-Muslim countries is louder than in some of the Muslim countries is a grim reality. That is certainly depressing, but in no way does it constitute an impediment to their struggle for self-determination.

It is interesting to note that while Kejriwal has focused on local issues, top leaderships of BJP are said to have expended their entire energies on turning the vote into a referendum on the women's protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh against anti-Muslim citizenship law. In other words, performance has defeated polarisation. Mr Modi, it is better to wake up to reality without any further loss of time. You must not ignore the fact that your agendas - Shaheen Bagh and Pakistan - have delivered to you nothing but the ignominy of a big defeat in the Delhi election. Your highly despicable ultra-right approach to governance has, in fact, helped the Delhi chief minister achieve '2020 victory'.