2024 Election Strategy: Will BJP Resort to Plotting Surgical Strikes to Secure Victory?

2024 Election Strategy: Will BJP Resort to Plotting Surgical Strikes to Secure Victory?

In an unsettling new turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently been accused of planning staged surgical strikes as a political strategy to win the impending general elections in 2024. The timing of the previous surgical strikes has drawn criticism; certain individuals argue that this tactic is always intended to capitalize on nationalist emotions in order to improve political prospects for the party.

Intense arguments have been ignited in India by the recent publication of China’s “standard map,” which included disputed areas including Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan, as well as the South China Sea. In response to the publishing of this map, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut questioned the government’s readiness to launch surgical strikes against China. Raut’s comments clarified rising concerns that these strikes would be used more as a political ploy instead of according to a legitimate military action.

Satyapal Malik, a former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, claimed that the Pulwama attack in 2019 appeared to be a premeditated event rather than a spontaneous occurrence, which supported Raut’s assertions. These accusations are similar to the skepticism raised over the 2002 Godhra incident. Raut stressed the potential for the BJP to create a comparable circumstance for the upcoming opening of the Ram Mandir, an event that is much awaited and scheduled to happen soon before the elections. He issued warnings about the possibility of unrest, violence, as well as a planned, well intended, and orchestrated surgical strike.

The opening of Ram Mandir is scheduled for immediately prior to the 2024 general elections. Sanjay Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) as well as a member of the Rajya Sabha, claimed on Tuesday that there is a concern among the local populace that a Godhra-like incident could occur at the unveiling of the Ram Mandir.

The fear that the political party (BJP) can stage a spectacle of a surgical strike in order to win elections, or the notion that they can do anything, continues to exist, according to Raut. While there are worries about the possibility of violence during the Ram Mandir’s inauguration, there is also a real worry that the BJP would use this event for political purposes. The apprehensions in the minds of the public as well as the political parties cannot be taken lightly, Raut declared.

We have concerns. During the inauguration of Ram Mandir, a crowd of millions may come to Ayodhya by train. We might have a problem at that time, in certain areas, stones would be pelted on trains and they might be thrashed. Then, riots can be initiated (by the BJP). This is the suspicion in the minds of people and political parties.

Raut attacked the BJP, saying that because they have no plans for 2024, they may incite riots as well as communal alienation in order to win the election. The claims made by Raut are supported by the BJP’s prior alleged electoral tactics. He emphasized that the BJP was accused of misleading the public during their first term, and during their second term, they were accused of profiting from the Pulwama attack, the subsequent Balakot airstrike, as well as inciting racial unrest in order to win elections.

According to Raut, the BJP does not possess an identifiable strategy for the 2024 elections, which raises the possibility of them attempting use riots as well as racial strife to gain widespread acceptance and support. Accusations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used surgical strikes to achieve electoral advantage have revived, putting the spotlight on a tendency that has long been at the core of political disputes in India. Critics claim that the party has purposefully used these military actions to boost its image as well as gain electoral victory. Earlier remarks by Congress politician Govind Singh Kushwah, as well as an examination of the party’s historical conduct, have given credence to these charges.

Kushwah, a cabinet minister from Madhya Pradesh and a major Congress figure, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the BJP misused the notion of surgical strikes in order to achieve their own political ends. He argued that although the administration of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also responsible for carrying out surgical strikes, they were not used as a means of propaganda as the BJP has been accused of doing. Kushwah contended that by using the Indian Army’s gallantry for political gain, Modi’s administration is damaging its reputation.

When it was alleged that the BJP planned these operations for electoral gain in 2019, the tactic of making use of surgical strikes for political ends came to light. The surgical strikes conducted out in 2016 against claimed terrorist camps in Pakistan were highly publicized by the party, who presented them as evidence of the administration’s audacious as well as nationalistic stance. The BJP’s strategy garnered attention because it utilized public assets as well as media attention to enhance these efforts.

The success of these surgical attacks, however, is an important factor that is frequently ignored by these patriotic festivities. Did they successfully prevent international terrorism and violence? Did this result in a better situation in Jammu and Kashmir? The examination of data points to a different narrative.

The South Asia Terrorism Portal’s (SATP) data reveals an entirely distinct picture. Since the 2016 surgical strikes, there have been more fatalities in Jammu & Kashmir than there were before. From 267 in 2016 to 298 in September 2018, more people—including civilians, security personnel, as well as terrorists—died. The number of ceasefire violations increased throughout the years as well, with 2018 having the most violations on record.

These results cast doubt on the claim that surgical strikes reduced hostilities. Additionally, they highlight a pattern of rising violence in Jammu and Kashmir since Modi’s administration started. This increase in violence has corresponded with the BJP’s 2016 partnership with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as well as subsequent policies, demonstrating that reasons other than surgical strikes have been contributing to the issue at hand.

Many believe that the BJP is trying to hide the complexity of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir by celebrating the anniversary of these surgical strikes with such fervor. According to its detractors, the party is using acts of bravery and patriotism as a smokescreen in order to conceal the manner in which it is addressing difficulties in the area.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been accused by the Congress party for employing surgical strikes to execute a vote-buying tactic in 2018 and the government’s dedication to national security was called into question. The event highlights the ongoing discussion about the motivations behind the BJP’s decision to engage in military actions for political gain.

Randeep Surjewala, the national spokesperson for the Congress, emphasized how the release of the surgical strikes video coincided with elections. He mentioned the surgical strikes that were carried out by the Indian Army and drew attention to the fact that they took place right before the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, meaning that the BJP had used the strikes to boost its support among voters.

Surjewala slammed the Modi administration for its purported defense budget cuts as well as its reluctance to equip the armed services with cutting-edge technology. He referred to these moves as “step-motherly” treatment of the Indian Army and charged the government with undermining the nation’s security apparatus.

Concerns with regard to the government’s choices on the Indian military were also expressed by the Congress spokesperson. He cited instances during which the government allegedly stopped providing officers with meals as well as taxed Army canteens with the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Surjewala stressed that as opposed to being utilized for political showboating, diplomatic and strategic initiatives should seek to boost national security.

When the BJP was facing political difficulties, he questioned the timing of the party’s emphasis on the bravery of the Indian Army. He made connections between several security situations, such as the loss of life of soldiers, Pakistani ceasefire violations, as well as terrorist acts following the September 2016 surgical strikes, and the claimed indifference of the Modi government.

The episode in 2018 serves as a reminder of the bigger discussion concerning the BJP’s stance on national security as well as its use of military operations to win votes. Critics have frequently questioned whether such moves actually improve the nation’s security or whether these actions are merely a calculated attempt to manipulate public opinion at pivotal political moments.

Critics contend that the BJP’s continued dependence on surgical strikes as an electoral strategy runs the risk of weakening the sacredness of such military operations as well as abusing the armed services’ sensibilities. Furthermore, critics note that such tactics draw focus away from urgent problems such as unemployment and inflation, which demand that the government provide immediate attention.

The scenario is set for a difficult confrontation as India moves toward the elections of 2024, where issues of national security, manipulation of politics, and genuine worries with regard to the country’s growth and governance will collide. The veracity of these allegations which have been levied against the Modi government remains to be seen, however they undeniably cast a shadow over the political landscape, leaving the nation to navigate its way through the enigma of victory which is created by the specter of surgical strikes.

Prioritizing Responsible Politics Over Manipulative Strategies: A Call for Clean Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is accused of using surgical strikes as a political tool, and new revelations and conversations concerning this topic have raised serious questions about the trajectory that Indian politics is taking. The ethical basis of government is called into question, as well as political leaders have a duty to put the welfare of the country above partisan interests. This is what happens when military operations and election campaigns overlap.

The BJP has been accused of using surgical strikes as well as national security victories to improve its political prospects over the years. If true, such techniques degrade the honor of military operations along with the real bravery of the armed services. Using national security issues for political gain is not only a disservice to citizens, but it also shows a disdain for the sacrifices made by soldiers who risk their lives to safeguard the country.

The potential communalization of tragedies for political advantage is also concerning. The documented cases of staged attacks as well as organized disputes aimed at manipulating voter opinion cast an overarching shadow over democratic activities. The country deserves genuine agenda-driven elections that address vital concerns such as unemployment, inflation, health care, schooling, as well as sustainable development.

All political parties as well as leaders must put ethical and responsible politics first as the 2024 elections approach close. Instead of relying on divisive strategies that exacerbate intercommunal strife and divert attention from urgent issues, clean elections should be centered on open platforms that really meet the demands of the populace.

Beyond securing votes, a responsible administration must also protect the wellbeing as well as unity of the country. The integrity of elections is compromised as a result of manipulative tactics that abuse the nation’s armed forces, take advantage of situations involving national security, and incite intergroup conflict. These tactics also undermine democracy itself.

Citizens should expect from their elected officials openness, accountability, as well as a dedication to making substantive progress in the spirit of a true democracy. It is impossible to overestimate the value of making educated decisions, and voters need to hold political parties and leaders responsible for their deeds and statements.

The nation’s future depends on a collective decision to reject divisive strategies and promote a responsible political discourse as the countdown to the 2024 elections gets under way. Let us support fair elections that are motivated by solid goals as well as a steadfast dedication to the development of the country. It is time for India to enter an entirely fresh phase of responsible politics that honors the sacrifices made by its armed services and promotes the values of harmony, growth, as well as advancement.