Indian Elevated State of Conflict: Permanent War Harming Democracy
Fired Up and Ready to Go: India's Ongoing Operation Sindoor
Following the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, Indian PM Narendra Modi made an address to the nation, declaring that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, had not ended. Instead, he labeled it as a new benchmark in India's ongoing fight against terrorism. Moreover, this operation is now the country's policy against terrorism.
What's the Big Deal?
Modi's speech suggested a permanent warlike situation for India, far from reassuring the public about their safety or secure future. In reality, the politically-motivated capitalization on the Pahalgam attack and the whipping up of war fervor has put the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a difficult position.
Despite an influx of hate rhetoric towards Muslims and Kashmiris, the BJP insisted on satisfying its nationalist support base, even if National democracy will suffer the consequences. By manipulating the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, the BJP has put itself in a tricky position, risking isolation and backlash from the international community.
Heated Action and Suppression
Following the BJP's anti-Muslim rhetoric, attacks on Muslims and Kashmiris occurred in various parts of India and arrests were made of critics voicing opposition to the Indian government. Meanwhile, the Indian army targeted Pakistani sites, only to be accompanied by exaggerated claims from mainstream media about the complete obliteration of Pakistan's Karachi port.
As the public's war fever began to intensify, the sudden ceasefire announcement by the US took the BJP support base by surprise. Some perceived the ceasefire as a retreat and a demonstration of weakness. In response, attacks against the foreign secretary and his family were unleashed, demonstrating the BJP's intolerance for critical voices.
The State of Indian Democracy
The trivialization of free speech and the suppression of critics have raised concerns about Indian democracy. The government's attempts to suspend democratic dialogue by avoiding parliamentary sessions have hindered accountability and transparency. As a result, total loyalty from the public will be demanded, and opposition parties will be silenced.
With Operation Sindoor ongoing and the country seemingly in a permanent state of war, Indian democracy remains in a precarious state. Freedom of speech will be restricted exclusively to those who align with BJP ideology.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.
Operation Sindoor, launched to counter terrorism, has become a permanent policy in India's fight against terrorism. The operation has neutralized over 100 terrorists and significantly damaged Pakistan's air force capabilities, reinforcing India's firm stance against terrorism and garnering widespread domestic support.
- The ongoing Operation Sindoor, aimed at combating terrorism, has been declared a permanent policy by Indian PM Narendra Modi, indicating a prolonged state of war-and-conflicts.
- The heightened war-and-conflicts rhetoric and suppression of critics have raised concerns about the state of Indian democracy, as democratic dialogue and free speech are being restricted.
- Political capitalization on the Pahalgam attack and intensification of war fervor have put the BJP in a difficult position, risking isolation and backlash from the international community, especially in the context of general-news related to terrorism and war-and-conflicts.
- Despite attempts to maintain national unity and domestic support, the violent crime-and-justice incidents targeting Muslims and Kashmiris have caused increasing tension and conflict within the country.
