AT A TIME when the dominant discourse of the Narendra Modi government revolves around the image of an army jawan fighting along the Kashmir border to safeguard India's sovereignty, one jawan is unable to pay full attention.
Jaspal Singh, resident of village Rahal Chahal, who is currently posted in Jammu and Kashmir, is waging a battle for six kanals of land that has been usurped by some villagers, allegedly with the backing of local Congress legislator Ramanjit Singh Sikki.Frutrated after his efforts to seek justice, jawan Jaspal Singh has now threatened to commit suicide in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
He said the goons want to snatch another 11 kanals from his four acres of land, and he had even contemplated suicide earlier but then there emerged a ray of hope when former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura said his party will take up the matter as part of Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal's Jabar-Virodhi Morcha. It was Ravinder Singh Brahmpura who took along the jawan to meet the local SSP, Darshan Singh Mann.
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Where are the crowds that shout Bharat Mata Ki Jai if anyone criticises Indian Army for anything? Where are the hordes that are forever ready to beat anyone to pulp for not standing up in a cinema hall for the national anthem? Where are the rakshaks that pounce upon cattle transporting innocent Muslims because they are so sensitive they don't want anyone to hurt cows? An army jawan is running from pillar to post to save his land from goons and powerful people, knocking at the doors of police officers, deputy commissioner with folding hands, hoping a Sukhbir Badal will help, or an ex-fauji like Amarinder Singh will listen.
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Earlier, DSP Satpal Singh of Goindwal Sahib had denied that Sikki or his men were grabbing Jaspal Singh's land, while Additional DC Sandeep Rishi termed it a case of land distribution between two parties.
Even as this army jawan runs from pillar to post to save his land from goons and powerful people, the crowds that are ready to beat anyone to pulp for not standing up in a cinema hall for the national anthem or transporting cattle seem nowhere in the picture.
