The Independence Day 2013, India’s 67th Independence Day has arrived amid another flare up at our Western borders with Pakistan. After the death of 5 Indian soldiers in alleged firing by Pakistani elite army personnel, the relations between the two nations have worsened. But to be true, the nations that became two different entities in the year 1947 have remained far from normal in the last several years following the infamous Mumbai attack.
Kuldeep Nayar, one of the top political analysts in India who is also a refugee from Pakistan rightly sums up the atmosphere in following words, “On August 14, 1947, the states of India and Pakistan came into being in the wake of division. Even today they have not settled down as neighbours, much less as friends”.
Meanwhile India President Pranab Mukherjee while delivering the customary speech on 14th August praised India’s all round achievements in every field and talked of even brighter future in the days ahead.
He also talked about the political deadlock that is visible in our Parliament where opposition parties have not allowed the Parliament to function normally. “Our Constitution provides a delicate balance of power between various institutions of the State. This balance has to be maintained. We need a Parliament that debates, discusses and decides. We need a judiciary that gives justice without delays. We need leadership that is committed to the nation and those values that made us a great civilization. We need a state that inspires confidence among people in its ability to surmount challenges before us. We need a media and citizens who, even as they claim their rights, are equally committed to their responsibilities”, President Mukherjee said.
