Editor’s Desk: Often people wonder why we are dubbed as a soft nation. The reason is loud and clear. We have a party at the helm that lacks power and will to hit back at the enemy hard, be it terrorists, naxals or a rogue neighbour. The recent killing of Indian soldiers at the LoC proved that beyond doubt.

The nation is outraged and seeks the severed head of Lance Naik Hemraj back. People have demanded strong action against the Pakistani Army that is indulged in this heinous crime. But, the Prime Minister of the nation is silent. He still believes that his silence is golden. There is no strong response from either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi.

At a time when the BJP leaders talked tough and demanded strong action, Congress asked the BJP to exercise restraint and refrain from showing “jingoism”. I&B Minister Manish Tewari took on the BJP saying tactical response and not jingoism is the need of the hour. “There is need to calm down. There has to be an element of sobriety”, he said. It could be recalled that Sushma had sought 10 heads from Pakistan in response to Hemraj’s barbaric decapitation.

There is little doubt that India cannot afford a war at this juncture when the focus is on improving the economic stability and trade relations with other nations. A war could turn out to be a disaster. But, that does not mean we need to sit idle and wait and watch Pakistan’s arrogance. We should find ways to retort and show that rogue nation that it cannot take us for granted. That would not only boost the morale of the armed forces, but also restore the confidence among the people.