Since 2014, under a Hindutva-centric government, one of the BJP’s core tenets has been to undermine and demonize Pakistan. From public opprobrium to incitement to war, from stereotypical films to chauvinistic news anchors, Modi’s India Pakistan is awash with anti-Pakistan sentiments. For example, during the 2014 elections, the BJP’s Giriraj Singh said that all those who do not vote for Modi should go to Pakistan. He also noted that “our forefathers have made a major mistake… if at that time (1947) the Muslims were sent there (to Pakistan), “We would not have had to face this situation.” In 2017, while campaigning for the Gujarat assembly elections, Modi shocked the subcontinent by claiming (without foundation) that a secret meeting between Congress leaders and Pakistani diplomats and elites was proof that they were colluding to steal the elections.
This trend of associating Pakistan with the Congress is a perennial one. During the 2019 election campaign, Gujarat BJP Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that if the Congress won, “then Diwali would be a celebration.” to be celebrated in PakistanThings got particularly frantic during the 2019 elections due to the Pulwama attack in which 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed. Without conducting an investigation, the BJP and the Indian armed forces were quick to blame Pakistan (which it vehemently denied). The BJP shouted “We will enter your homes (in Pakistan) and hit you,” and then escalated the situation further by carrying out an airstrike in Balakot in Pakistan. This led to Pakistan retaliating, which led to its air force shooting down an Indian MiG-21. As tensions rose, the BJP not only manufactured, but rode this anti-Pakistan wave to a massive electoral victory in 2019.
In this regard, former Governor of Indian Kashmir Satya Pal said that just before the Pulwama attack in 2019, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had requested for aircraft as such a huge convoy never travels by road. He said the request was made to the Home Ministry and not to him, but the latter refused. Pal said he had a conversation with Modi and Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor, during which he said that Pulwama incident was ‘our fault’. He claims that both Modi and Doval told him to keep quiet and not let people know that it was their mistake. It is important to note here that Pal believes that Pulwama would not have been possible without the (alleged) complicity of Pakistan, but claims that the BJP deliberately ignored this. He adds, “…I realised that all the blame was going to be put on Pakistan…” to reap electoral gains. In another interview, he says, “I fear that (the BJP)… may orchestrate an attack on the Ram temple. They may plot to kill a BJP leader. If they can carry out an attack on Pulwama, they can do anything.”
In the 2024 elections, Modi has painted a picture of a hegemonic India juxtaposed with the inconsistency of Pakistan. due to its failing economy and political instability. Moreover, the “two for one” strategy of pairing the Congress with Pakistan has been reused in recent elections. For example, during the campaign for the 2024 Gujarat elections, Modi said: “Pakistan is eager to make Shehzada (Rahul Gandhi) the prime minister… And we know that the Congress is a disciple of Pakistan. As should be obvious by now, this antagonism against Pakistan is the BJP’s bread and butter – and its hard-line base is eating it up. This rhetoric is rising. At one of the now common anti-Muslim rallies in India, young women dressed in saffron “held placards demanding Muslims must choose between “Pakistan or Qabristan” (Pakistan or the graveyard). Modi and his cronies have also exploited Kashmir to whip up nationalism during the elections. “We will take it back (Kashmir),” Amit Shah, Modi’s right-hand man and a BJP minister, proclaimed at a press conference. Elections 2024 rally.
Hatred towards Pakistan goes beyond mere affectation. According to a recent Guardian report, India’s RAW has led 20 assassinations on Pakistani soil since 2020. This was confirmed to publication by Indian and Pakistani intelligence officials. It also lends more credence to Canada’s allegations that India was behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a Khalistan Movement This could, however, play into the hands of the BJP’s hardline base, as it vindicates their tough stance. Position on Pakistan according to analysts.
Similar to the political malfeasance of the BJP, the Indian film industry, once loved Pakistan has taken a punitive stance against the country. Recent films that have caused a stir include “The Kashmir Files,” which focuses on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) by Pakistani-backed militants from Indian-controlled Kashmir in the 1990s. The film’s depiction of the genocide has been deemed inaccurate by many academics, and its portrayal of Muslims has been deemed Islamophobic and slanderous. Conversely, and unsurprisingly, the BJP has supported the film’s version of events. BJP leader Smriti Irani has been the most vocal in promoting it, while Modi himself has attacked critics who misrepresent the events. negative reviews about the movie – calling it a conspiracy to cover up the truth.
Indian Muslim actors are regularly harassed by the BJP and its supporters. For example, Bollywood’s biggest stars Salman Khan, Amir Khan and Shah Rukh (all Muslims) have “faced criticism from BJP figures in recent years, along with the usual taunts that they should “go to Pakistan”“For this reason, they remained either silent or acquiesced for fear of their careers.
Shah Rukh Khan, once beloved in Pakistan, recently starred in a 2023 anti-Pakistan film, “Pathaan.” In the film, a Pakistani general who doesn’t have much time left to live tries to punish India for revoking Article 370 in Kashmir. The Guardian, Fatima Bhutto writes that “Pathaan’s plot is absurd… Article 370 was the instrument that brought Kashmir into the Indian Union; if it is declared null and void, then so is Kashmir’s accession to India…” Despite the plot holes, he has become the 6th the most profitable The most famous Indian film of all time. In her article, Bhutto criticizes Shahrukh Khan for not taking a stand against Modi. In fact, she publicly praised Modi for his “efforts” for India, much to the dismay of millions of Muslims and Pakistanis.
“Fighter,” released in 2024, is another propaganda project. The film refers to Pulwama-Balakot and the ensuing dogfight between the two nations. BBC journalist Haroon Rashid said the film “distorts the facts to such an extent that it presents a version of history that did not happen and incites hatred between the communities.” However, anti-Pakistan films like Fighter are doing well in India, grossing Rs 337.2 crore ($40 million) and also being among the top 50 highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Today, the Indian media is littered with what is called God media (a play on words between “Modi” and the word for “doggies”) by Indian critics. I have already argued that “coercion and seduction” by the BJP is what has provoked the media obsequity. According to the Reporters Without Borders 2024 RankingIndian media ranks 159th. It further states that violence against journalists, media monopolization and political affinities mean that “freedom of the press “The world’s largest democracy is in crisis.”
One of the reasons why the Indian media is nothing more than a puppet to the BJP’s wishes is that most of the major media houses are owned by a few powerful individuals. Modi’s billionaire ally Mukesh Ambani “owns over 70 media houses that are followed by at least 100 million people.” 800 million Indians.” In addition, in 2022, in a major context A blow to independent journalismGautam Adani, Asia’s richest man and another Modi confidant, has bought NDTV, one of India’s largest media companies.
The Pulwama-Balakot debacle is a perfect illustration of the low standard of the Indian media today. Not only did the media say that India should punish Pakistan (before any investigation), but it also spread lies, as shown in international media). Perhaps even more embarrassing for the BJP-media nexus is the EU DisinfoLab Report 2019 which exposed how India was resurrecting NGOs, think tanks and even missing people to spread content that is primarily detrimental to Pakistan. This network is run by the Srivastava Group and is backed by ANI, one of India’s leading news agencies. ANI spreads editorials from fake websites that he would “cite as credible European media reports”.
Although both countries have historically interfered in each other’s affairs, supported insurgencies on each other’s soil (from Kashmir to Khalistan) and fought a series of wars, India’s hatred for Pakistan at the governmental and societal levels far outweighs the other way around. Modi’s India and its obsession with Pakistan are unlikely to abate even if the BJP loses power. This is because millions of Hindutva devotees have been radicalised to the point of hating Pakistan as an ideological prerequisite. To appeal to this base, the BJP is going to war at every opportunity, because Modi knows that hating Pakistan sells.
Further reading on electronic international relations
