On 27th February 1933, a blazing fire swept across the German Parliament as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels were having dinner at Goebbels’ apartment in Berlin. Hitler had been sworn in as Chancellor of Germany based on the Nazi party’s plurality – as they had failed to secure a majority in parliament. Arriving on the spot at approximately 11:30 pm, Hitler hailed the fire as a “sign from God” and labelled it as the most monstrous act of terrorism carried out by communists in Germany. His call was simple: the country was in danger as the communists were out to mark another glorious revolution which was heading towards matching Lenin’s onslaught in Russia in 1917. On the next day after the fire, President Hindenburg signed the Reichstag Fire Decree into law in accordance with Article 48 of the Weimar constitution. The decree suspended almost all basic civil liberties in Germany – these were never to be reinstated under Nazi rule.
Almost a century has passed since that infamous event in German history, but it is pertinent to remember Nietzsche’s explicit warning that “time itself is a circle”. Indeed, Prime Minister Modi and his RSS government have matched Hitler’s clarity on the identity of the perpetrators. Disregarding the need for a proper investigation – India instantly blamed Pakistan for the highly condemnable terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The ferocious speed of Indian allegations and actions have created a war hysteria not seen since 2019 when Indian Airforce pilot Abhinandan Varthaman came to have tea within Pakistani borders. Mr Modi has given his armed forces “operational freedom” to respond as they see right and suspended the Indus Water Treaty. The similarities seem uncanny.
Pakistan has been quick to renounce Indian accusations on international forums. Prime Minister Sharif has clearly indicated that Pakistan is ready for a “neutral and transparent” investigation into the deadly attack and outrightly denied any sort of involvement. However, this offer has fallen on deaf ears of the Indian state authorities and right-wing media hell-bent on stirring up a storm.
The Defence Minister has labelled the attack as a ‘false flag’ operation. Such remarks may be well placed as the rebel organization, the Resistance Front, which has claimed responsibility for the attack has not been substantially linked to Pakistan. Pakistan must continue to stand its ground amidst what the Foreign Office has described as an extensive ‘Indian misinformation campaign’.
It would be advisable for the Prime Minister to read more on Walter Gempp to assess whether his offer may be taken by the Indian side. Gempp served as the head of the Berlin fire department at the time of the Reichstag fire and personally directed the logistical operations at the incident site. On 25th March 1933, Gempp was dismissed for bringing forward evidence that suggested possible Nazi involvement in the fire. He cited certain glaring errors on part of the Nazi administration which involved a delay in notifying the fire brigade. Gempp also alleged that he had been forbidden from using the full resources at his disposal.
Almost immediately, Gempp was arrested for abuse of office and imprisoned till his eventual death. The Nazis were not to let anyone dispute their truth. The RSS machinery operates with similar vengeance.
The Defence Minister has labelled the attack as a ‘false flag’ operation. Such remarks may be well placed as the rebel organization, the Resistance Front, which has claimed responsibility for the attack has not been substantially linked to Pakistan. Pakistan must continue to stand its ground amidst what the Foreign Office has described as an extensive ‘Indian misinformation campaign’.
Many have described this escalation as Modi’s ploy to cement his legacy in Indian history by usurping Kashmir completely. The revoking of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution was just the appetizer. For Modi, it is now time to serve up the main course as domestic pressures on him increase manifold. Like Hitler, Modi envisions his legacy in war and glory. His brand of Hindutva made transcendent by mixing it with nationalism and hawkism.
Yet, the beauty of history is that it preaches both the lessons of war and the tales of peace. In Germany, it was the sheer post-war determination of Konrad Adenauer that led to the symbolic signing of the Elysee treaty in 1963 between Germany and France. In Adenauer’s speech after the signing of the pact, he said that the treaty was essentially directed at young people who should embrace each other’s culture and values wholeheartedly after a period of endless wars.
Similarly, in 2004 Atal Bihari Vajpayee ushered similar hope as he travelled to meet President Musharraf. Amidst high security detail, he told a closed off convention hall: “We must make a transition from mistrust to trust, from discord to concord and from tension to peace.”
Messages of peace get less soundbites and fewer column inches than the roars of war. It is human nature that the risk of danger jolts us more than those silent mummers of peace. Can one say that Konrad Adenauer is more well known than Adolf Hitler? There are no sirens in peace times. During the end of WWII in 1945, sirens in Berlin warning citizens of inbound allied bombing became routine. Let us hope that the sirens being installed in 29 districts of KP stay silent forever.
