Blowing the lid off the Pulwama attack on its first anniversary, the WhatsApp leaks of Arnab Goswami, a journalist close to the Modi government has established that the incident was nothing but a false-flag operation orchestrated by the Indian leadership for getting selfish political gains through maligning Pakistan. The conversation also evidently exposes the fact that up to what extent the ruthless and callous Narendra Modi and his cronies can go in their pursuit by slaughtering even their own military men.
The WhatsApp communication between Republic TV anchor, Arnab Goswami and then Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) chief executive Partho Dasgupta clearly indicated that Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration had masterminded the Pulwama false-flag operation as well as airstrikes near the Pakistani area of Balakot before the election, in a way that would ‘elate’ the Indian people.
The WhatsApp messages also revealed that Arnab Goswami was in prior knowledge of the conspiracy hatched apparently by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration to carry out airstrikes near Balakot—several hours ahead of the intrusion into Pakistan’s airspace, that ended up in a worldwide embarrassment for their country in 2019.
During the tête-à-tête dated 23 February 2019, Republic TV anchor Goswami told Dasgupta that “something big will happen”. Nonetheless, when the latter asked if it was about “Dawood”, Goswami replied, “No sir, Pakistan. Something major will be done this time.” The conversation apparently proved that Goswami had known that airstrikes were going to be conducted shortly in order to win the hearts of the Indians securing Modi’s victory in the parliamentary election that year. “It’s good for the big man this season. He (Narendra Modi) will sweep the polls”, responded Dasgupta, inquiring if it will be “a strike” or “something bigger”.
Not only did the revelation of the conversation between the two clearly point towards the fact that how easily some blue-eyed media persons could have prior information and access to the top-secret military operations of the Indian army, but also the extent the present Indian leadership of BJP can go to achieve their political gains. Obviously, it has been proved now that PM Narendra Modi and his chums can go to any extent to ensure their presence in the corridors of power. In the pursuit of this goal, they do not hesitate even in slaughtering their own army and putting the blame on Pakistan. It has vindicated Islamabad’s stance on the Pulwama operation as well as the terrorist attacks.
Meanwhile, the way the Pulwama attack was carried out raised many an eyebrow within and outside India on the authenticity of the claim made by the Indian leadership that has since been pointing fingers towards Islamabad for the terrorist operation.
A whole slew of questions, from killing low-caste Indian soldiers to supplying arms and ammunition in a heavy quantity in the hands of terrorists normally used only by the Indian Army, have yet to be clarified.
Pertinent to mention here is an investigative report published in an Indian magazine The Caravan, which revealed the system by the dint of which low-caste communities, especially low-caste Hindus (Dalits) are subjected to all sorts of exploitation across India by the ruling upper class of Brahmins—the truism is starkly visible everywhere in India right now.
The report comprehensively threw light on how cruelly and inhumanly the Indian troops, belonging to low caste backgrounds were butchered in the Pulwama attack by their own countrymen from the upper class at the behest of the Modi government.
The report revealed that the 40 Indian soldiers primarily hailed from lower-caste communities. In all, they comprised 19 troops from other backward classes (or backward castes); seven from scheduled castes; five from scheduled tribes; four from upper-caste backgrounds; one high-caste Bengali; three Jat Sikhs; and one Muslim. Moreover, twelve of the 40 troops who died in Pulwama were from Uttar Pradesh, and they included two Brahmins, three from Scheduled Castes, and seven from OBC communities. So, only five out of the 40 soldiers, or 12.5 percent, came from Hindu upper-caste backgrounds. The BJP government never spoke of the caste and class dimensions of those Indian soldiers who died in Pulwama.
The answer also begets another question about the use of weapons shown in the video footage of the Pulwama attack. As told by Indian authorities shortly after the attack, the weapons were the American made M16s with a telescopic optic, LMG with night-vision devices, and laser-range finders. The question arises here; are these kinds of weapons as well as 350 kilograms of explosive easily available in the Valley where the heavy presence of Indian troops has already made it impossible for the local Kashmiris to move around unchecked? How come the footage of the attack appeared on social media hardly minutes after the attack? Moreover, it was known in five minutes that an improvised Explosive Device (IED) was used in the attack.
The stark reality is that the Indian Premier Narendra Modi, through his dangerous actions has become a constant threat to regional security and peace of not only South Asia but also the world. India’s behaviour is increasingly that of a rogue state. Through unilateral military actions, disinformation campaigns false-flag operations and state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan, Delhi has already led the region to the brink of a potential war.
The Indian narrative of isolating Pakistan is on its last legs. Whereas, the Indian leadership has now been pushed to the wall by its own internal and external crises and problems. The fact of life is from held Kashmir to Assam; India is burning. Besides the farmers’ protest movement, a number of other separatist movements across India have crippled both its economy and security. So, India has virtually become turbulent for the Modi government which is finding it very difficult to cope with the situation.
Therefore, there is a strong possibility that in order to divert the attention of its people from internal pressures, Indian leadership can go on yet another misadventure by mounting an attack on Azad Kashmir. If this happens, it would be a great mistake for which India has to pay a heavy price as Pakistan will not sit back and its reply will be prompt and devastating for India. Thus, it is high time the world powers took notice of the volatile condition in South Asia before it is too late. The international powers should also take into account what the BJP is doing within and outside India.