May 22, 2025, marked one month of the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists and one Kashmiri. The immediate response to the horrific attack was shock and grief, which turned into anger. As the news of the killing spread, rage and revenge engulfed the whole country, everyone wanted the terrorists to be punished with death. The more people watched the news and video clips of the aftermath of the killings on social media, the more their anger rose. The whole country was aghast at the cold-blooded killings. The terrorists asked the names of the tourists and shot the males point-blank. They left the females unharmed and told one of them, “Jao Modi ko batao” (Go tell Modi), as per some newspapers and TV channels.
From Indians Killed to Hindus Killed
As the coverage of the terror attack and killing increased, we saw a narrative being built by the news channels, the ruling party’s IT cell, and some politicians. All the news channels and social media were full of a Hindu vs Muslim binary. News channels and social media portrayed it as if all the Muslims were responsible for the killings, and soon, we saw instances of Kashmiri Muslims being abused on social media and physically attacked in various parts of the country.
One particular shocking example came the next day, when the BJP Chhattisgarh shared an animation on social media, showing a grieving wife sitting next to her slain husband. The caption on the animation read “Dharm Poocha, Jaati Nahi”, clearly trying to turn the tragedy into religious hatred. This was not an isolated case but part of a larger, coordinated effort to frame the tragedy as a communal issue, casting Hindus solely as victims and Muslims as oppressors. Instead of uniting the country in grief and resolve, a segment of the political and media machinery chose to exploit the attack to demonize and terrorize Indian Muslims.
Imagine a country after a terror attack, instead of showing solidarity and putting up a united front against the terror attack, starts abusing, maligning, and attacking its citizens. No serious questions were raised about the security lapse, and no accountability was sought. Rather than confronting the enemy, the tragedy was cynically repurposed to stoke division and communal hatred. The opportunity to come together as one nation was hijacked to polarize the country.
Thankfully, despite the efforts of the news channels, the BJP IT cell, and the BJP leaders to spread religious hatred, sanity prevailed among the citizens of the country, and barring some incidents, nothing major happened.
The media’s focus, sadly, was less on news and more on creating a frenzy. The people of Kashmir Valley came out in thousands against the terror attack and collectively condemned the incident. Yet this critical gesture received little attention from mainstream channels because it does not suit their agenda. This was the time to show unity and tell the world and Pakistan that all Indians, irrespective of their religion and region, are united against the terror attack. But what the media chose to amplify was division instead, exactly what the anti-India forces wanted. The terrorists and their handlers knew that religion is the fault line of India, which is why they asked the victim’s name (religion) before killing them. The real question, though, is whether the Indian media and certain political leaders failed to grasp this obvious fact, or did they choose to exploit it?
Prime Minister’s Response
Prime Minister Mr. Modi was out of the country at the time of the attack, cut short his visit, and returned. On the same day, PM Modi tweeted, condemning the attack and assuring that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Then, on April 24, in a rally in Bihar, PM Modi issued a stern warning to the terrorists and their handlers of dire consequences. True to form, the Prime Minister chose a grand stage to make his statement. Dialogue and discussion are not his preferred mode of communication. He consistently avoided press conferences, preferring one-way communication formats. His strength lies in commanding the spotlight with powerful monologues and dramatic performances, the media takes care of the rest.
For the next few days, PM carried on his business-as-usual, attending rallies and being a keynote speaker in various functions and podcasting his monthly “Mann Ki Baat”. He again vowed to punish the terrorists and their handlers in his Mann Ki Baat address to the nation. Around this time, social media and news channels were abuzz with images and clips of the Prime Minister in meetings with the National Security Advisor, Mr. Dobhal, and the three chiefs of the armed forces. There were speculations all around, and a phrase “something is cooking” was echoing in newsrooms and drawing rooms alike. On 6th, the Home Ministry announced a nationwide civil defence mock drill to be held on 7th May. The whole nation waited with bated breath, something big was about to unfold.
Operation Sindoor and Jingoism
On the midnight of 6th and 7th May, India launched an offensive strike against the terror camp based in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and mainland Kashmir. While the public sensed something would happen, they were not sure of what was ‘cooking’. When the country awoke and got the news of India’s strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan, everyone supported it and was behind the Indian government and armed forces.
However, what followed was a frenzy of ultra-nationalism and jingoism on mainstream media channels and social media. The TV studios with the familiar faces as ‘defence experts’ were ready to capture Pakistan from the TV studios. A retired major notorious for his anti-Pakistan rants was at his histrionic best, spreading misinformation in the name of patriotism. An English-speaking anchor, armed with AI-generated visuals of fighter jets and explosions, appeared more interested in virtual warfare than responsible journalism. Hindi channels were no different, locked in a frantic race for TRPs, pushing sensationalism over substance.
Amid this manufactured frenzy, the official briefings by the armed forces offered a rare moment of sobriety. These briefings were measured, factual, and reassuring to citizens trying to understand the reality on the ground.
While the army was fighting the actual war with Pakistan, some ultra nationalists were waging a war against their citizens, who were calling out the news channels for their overzealous reporting and against citizens who were asking for de-escalation.
Ceasefire, Tiranga Yatra, and an all-Party Delegation on a World Tour
And then came the anti-climax. After three days of conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally tweeted that he had brokered a “FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE” between India and Pakistan. The Indian foreign ministry scrambled to contain the narrative, issuing vague denials. But notably, Prime Minister Modi remained silent—no statement, no press conference, not even a tweet.
Operation Sindoor was declared a success, and Prime Minister Modi has been reiterating it at every opportunity. No, he did not hold a press conference; that is not his style. He is a strong advocate of one-way communication. So, he took it upon himself to convey to the Indian citizens that he avenged the deaths of innocent people killed in Pulwama. At times, he spoke of himself in the third person, which I found off-putting. Yet, each time he spoke, the crowd erupted in the chants of “Modi, Modi, Modi.”
The task of informing citizens about the “success” of Operation Sindoor was led by Prime Minister Modi. However, the unexpected announcement of a ceasefire by Trump has taken the sheen off India’s victory over Pakistan. Adding to the embarrassment was the comical coverage of the conflict by Indian News media, which raised serious questions on our credibility. To manage the global narrative, the government decided to send an all-party delegation to different countries to explain India’s version and objective of Operation Sindoor.
Ironically, the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, who wish to have a Congress-mukt Bharat, were compelled to include Congress members in the delegation. I watched our “laser-eyed” Foreign Minister, Mr. Jaishankar ji, fumbling while answering questions about Trump’s mediation, while Shashi Tharoor fielded volleys from the foreign press with eloquence and composure.
What Did Operation Sindoor Achieve?
Now that Operation Sindoor is over or “suspended,” as per our Prime Minister in one of his speeches, we need to take a step back and analyze what we have achieved. Are we in a better position than we were before? Will it deter Pakistan or the terrorists? One obvious thing that we can see is that both countries are claiming their victories, and both are celebrating. In Pakistan, General Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, and in India, posters of Mr. Modi are surfacing in different cities hailing him as the leader of the Operation Sindoor.
Some More Questions?
- Who was responsible for the security failure?
- How did the terrorists escape and are still at large?
- What pre-war preparations were done in the border areas of J&K?
- Why were people near the border not taken into bunkers or safe houses?
- Who is responsible for the deaths of 12-16 civilians in Poonch?
- How many countries unequivocally supported India?
- Are we diplomatically better or worse off after Operation Sindoor?
If and when we get answers to these questions, we will know whether Operation Sindoor was a success or will it become merely a tool to garner votes in elections. Until we get the real answers, not just grandstanding, we must keep asking questions and demand truth over theatrics.
Picture Credits: BJP Chhattisgarh Twitter handle, Various X handles