And India has responded to the siege by a policy of denial, deception and inaction. But to pretend that the problem does not exist is self-deception, and does not solve the problem. It aggravates the problem.

Bangladeshi aggression

Perilous Bangladeshi demographic aggression is one of the main reasons for India's siege. During the last few years, crores of Bangladeshis have illegally infiltrated into India which has changed the demographic map of many States, particularly North Eastern States like West Bengal and Assam where more districts have become Muslim majority districts because of Bangladeshi infiltration. Bangladeshi infiltration in sensitive areas is being fully supported by Pakistan's intelligence agency I.S.I. with its long term design to destroy India. Though TV Rajeshwar, former Intelligence Bureau chief (and at present the Governor of Uttar Pradesh) in 1996 had cautioned against the emergence of another "Islamic State" in the Eastern part of India because of Bangladeshi infiltration, successive governments have done nothing to deport the infiltrators and to end the continuing infiltration.

It is tragic that every one is passively watching the siege of the nation.

"Indians" are forgotten

India is a 'theatre of the absurd' where oblivious of the siege, all major political parties are busy with their sectarian and divisive agenda which have crippled the nation.

In run-up to the recent parliamentary elections, while the then BJP Prime Minister offered lacs of jobs of Urdu teachers to please the Muslims; Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh declared an unsolicited half-day holiday to enable Muslims to offer prayers; and Telugu Desham Party and Congress promised job reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. The entity called the 'Indians' were forgotten by all political parties.

After the elections, the Congress-led Andhra Pradesh Government passed the order (afterward quashed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court) giving reservation to Muslims on religious grounds in government jobs; Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh proposed another Muslim University; and Congress-led government in Maharashtra gave statutory status to the State Minority Com- mission. Besides, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has recently initiated the divisive and dangerous process of giving reservation to minorities in government jobs and educa- tional institutions by approving the setting up of a Commission in this regard.

And all political parties are silent over the Indian Constitution's direction (vide Article 44) to enact a Uniform Civil Code. And since India is under siege, almost every day, innocent people are being killed by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in Kashmir. India has lost more soldiers in fighting Pakistan sponsored terrorists in Kashmir than it lost in its 1965 or 1971 war with Pakistan. It is deplorable that Pakistan sponsored terrorists have been operating in our country for so long; and successive Governments have done nothing to abolish Article 370, the main reason for Kashmir problem.

Article 370 negates the very concept of one unified India.

Conferring a special status on the Muslim majority Jammu and Kashmir State, Article 370 has created a number of problems.

Though Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, even the President or Prime Minister of India cannot purchase even one square inch of land there. Moreover, though any person from Jammu and Kashmir can reside and settle anywhere else in India, no person from rest of the country can reside and settle in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, many of the Central laws are not applica- ble in Jammu and Kashmir. Though Constitution framers inserted Article 370 only as a "temporary provision", it survives even in 2004 -- 54 years after the Constitution came into effect in 1950.

No political party is vocal about abrogation of Article 370 which should have been deleted long ago.

The directionless BJP

Though there are some notable exceptions in this regard, most of the BJP leaders have used 'nationalism' as a ladder to climb to power, and then forgotten it. Throughout its 5 years of power at the Centre, BJP forgot its agenda of deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators, Uniform Civil Code, abolition of Article 370, curbing terrorism in Kashmir, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus, Ayodhya, and good governance. Sticking to power became its only agenda.

After the loss of power at the Centre, the directionless Bharatiya Janata Party is still in the 'thinking mode' and refuses to see the obvious. After Mumbai musings, BJP had a "Chintan Baithak" in Goa where it declared its commitment to 'ideological orientation' and 'cultural nationalism'. BJP should realise that its bad governance and abdication of its nationalistic agenda brought its downfall; and its hollow rhetoric like 'ideological orientation' and 'cultural nationalism' will impress none.

Solution

Since Congress party has been in power for most of the period since independence, many of the problems facing the nation at present are the result of the policies pursued by Congress party.

Therefore, Congress party cannot free the country from the bind in which India finds itself. That the BJP which was eloquent about the siege surrounding India before coming to power did nothing to thwart the said siege while in power shows its insincerity. Other political parties either follow the Congress line, or do not have an all India presence.

In this dismal scenario, when the common man has become cynical and distrustful of all political parties which have lost their credibility, the only solution to give to the nation a clean and efficient government, and to liberate it from its painful siege lies in the formation of a new strong political party comprising of selfless and nationalist patriots with a sincere, upright, nationalistic and people-friendly agenda.

Situation is very grim; and is worsening every day. Since it is a 'now or never' position, new political party has to be formed at the earliest to awaken the nation from its slumber, and to launch the movement to liberate the country from its agonizing siege. The new party will transform India into a living and vibrant nation, and liberate it from Bangladeshi infiltrators, Pakistan sponsored terrorists and all divisive and anti-national oddities being touted as secularism.

In the vibrant India free from siege, there would be no majority and no minority. In the liberated polity, there would be only humans, only citizens. There would be one law. And one nation.

Justice to all; injustice to none.

And then India would never be under siege again.