Tensions in the Indo-Pakistan relationships have been at an all time high since the mortifying Pulwama Attack on the 14 of February 2019. The attack was followed by a series of tit-for-tat air strikes that intensified hostility amidst the two nuclear powers. While the past couple of weeks have had ramifications far beyond people sitting in New Delhi or Islamabad can fathom, one body has been able to benefit immensely - the BJP.
The central government has witnessed a dip in their popularity over the last two years with their largely unsuccessful demonetisation policy and the loss of elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh; keeping this in mind, the Pulwama attack and the consequential air strikes couldn’t have been better timed. The masses are congratulating the Modi led BJP for putting words into action and allegedly destroying the breeding ground of the radical militants in Balakot.
Simultaneously, the Indian media has credited the return of IAF pilot Abhinandan to the suave diplomacy of New Delhi, and not the fact that it was followed through because of a clause in the Geneva Convention. While what Wing Commander Abhinandan went through and the way he handled himself in this what one can only imagine to be a daunting situation, the BJP has fully exploited his experience. Commander Abhinandan is being celebrated as an alive martyr, his return has put the media and the masses under a spell of applause for the NDA government, making them apathetic towards the deep rooted fallacies in the Kashmir policy that the government follows.
One cannot deny that Modi and his government dealt with the overwhelming crises in a quick and efficient manner, but the euphoria caused by the omnipotent propaganda has manoeuvred us to forget that these so called victories against Pakistan are extremely fleeting and not a long term solution to what has been a dark cloud on Indian politics for its entire history and what could cast its shadow for decades to come. The masses have been given no choice but to unite against their common enemy, a classic trope for any government trying to strengthen their place in office. As jingoistic vigour escalates in India, the BJP government tries their best to ensure their victory in the 2019 elections.
