Freeing of Nurses - Diplomatic Victory for New Government

Modi government was accumulating criticism over its policy of cutting subsidies for oil, railway fares and the anticipated hike in LPG and kerosene prices. After a brief honeymoon of two weeks, the new government sat down to do business the hard way. But people are not prone to approach an escalation of prices with any hint of rationalism. If the measure somehow affects their purses, they will naturally scorn the hand that pursue this line of action.

The unexpected surge in the activities of the Sunni-led Islamic forces in Iraq was thought to be a thorn in the flesh for the new government, though it is anticipating a drought as well. Hundreds of Indians working in Iraq were caught between the crossfire and many of them were detained by the rebels, which included 46 female nurses. Their plight fanned the flames of national anxiety in the past two weeks. No body had any clue how to rescue them from the clutches of a militia which was overrunning the whole of Iraq before which government troops were meekly putting down their guns and sitting still to be culled like a clutch of chicken! The nation trembled in anticipation at the likely fate of these hapless nurses.

When Delhi began contacting Iraq's neighbouring states to secure the release of hostages, nobody took it seriously. How could the Indian administrators possibly hope to effect the release of Indians from the custody of diehard militants against whom even the Americans are unwilling to deploy their ground troops? Not only that, the fighters declared a caliph who vouched sovereignty over India too. Naturally, everyone thought that the administration was playing for time while praying for the best.

But quite out of the blue, it bore fruit. The real reason behind the impulsive change of heart of the rebels is not clear, but they decided to free the nurses to the relief of the entire country. They were transported to neutral Kurd-controlled territory and flown over to India today. This is a definite diplomatic victory for India and for the rebels too, for their responsible behaviour and maintenance of wartime ethics to civilians.

Until the day when somebody comes out with a book detailing the behind-the-scenes drama, we must thank and congratulate the Modi Sarkar for pulling off this seemingly impossible achievement!