As the political landscape in India heats up with the impending 2024 general elections, there are genuine concerns about the manipulative and divisive tactics employed by the ruling Bharatya Janata Party (BJP) for electoral gains.
The remarks made by Satya Pal Malik, a former governor of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir who was associated with the BJP, point to a disturbing trend in Indian politics. His assertion that the party could orchestrate incidents akin to the Pulwama attack for electoral advantage is really alarming – something that cannot be ignored at all.
Satya Pal Malik in a recent interview, which was shared by Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti on her twitter handle said, “I fear [these people] could do any untoward incident. They can orchestrate an attack on Ram Temple. They conspire to kill a BJP leader. If they can do Pulwama attack, they can do anything. They don’t care of parliament. Given the past posture of BJP, the very words of Satya Pal Malik carry weight. By orchestrating an attack on any important place, they will not only ratchet up anti-Pakistan sentiments but also find the pretext to attack Pakistan.
It remains crucial to recall the events preceding the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where the Modi government orchestrated a false flag operation in Pulwama to cast blame on Pakistan and gain electoral support. Swiftly attributing the attack to Pakistan, the Indian leadership failed to present substantial evidence corroborating its claims of Pakistani involvement.
Leaked conversations involving BJP and RSS-associated Indian journalist Arnab Goswami rather revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working in tandem with the Indian Army, intelligence agencies, and right-wing media to engineer the Pulwama incident to mount aggression on Pakistan.
Undoubtedly, the BJP government emerged as the primary beneficiary of the Pulwama attack. The incident bolstered their position, leading to a resounding triumph in the Lok Sabha elections, amplified by an aggressive anti-Pakistan narrative that resonated with segments of the electorate. However, as the 2024 election cycle approaches and Modi’s popularity wanes, as evidenced by recent electoral outcomes such as the Karnataka elections, concerns regarding the pursuit of power at any cost come to the forefront.
The spectre of history repeating itself cannot be dismissed at all. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh time and again issued provocative statements against Pakistan, including the one to invade Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Then, most recently, there was a ceasefire violation on the Line of Control by the Indian forces, which claimed one person’s life.
Hence, the apprehension that another Pulwama-like episode could be staged cannot be rejected. In their hunger for power, elements led by Modi in BJP can go to any extent and put the regional peace, security, and the well-being of citizens at stake for their electoral gains.
Whilst we have no doubt on the capabilities of armed forces who have always given a befitting response to Indian hostilities, including the one on February 2019, but the very irresponsible and vitriolic posture on the part of BJP is dangerous for regional peace and stability.
The repercussions of any escalation are dire, impacting not only India and Pakistan but also the larger global community. The consequences of escalated tensions between two neighboring nuclear powers are too dire to ignore. Against this backdrop, responsibility rests with the international community to understand the machinations on the part of BJP leadership and stop it from any belligerence.
India’s citizens deserve leaders committed to fostering a peaceful and prosperous environment for their nation and the broader region. Anything short of that jeopardizes the future not only for India but for the entire region. In this crucial juncture, the Indian electorate must demand accountability demand ethical governance, and reject any attempts to compromise regional peace for the sake of political power.
