ISLAMABAD: Renewed controversy has erupted in Indian politics followingexplosive allegations by a prominent opposition leader that the 2019Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve PoliceForce personnel, was not a foreign-orchestrated act but a calculatedconspiracy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The statement, made on theeve of the new year, has reignited debates over the incident’s motives andtiming, just months before key assembly elections, drawing sharp reactionsfrom across the political spectrum.
The attack occurred on February 14, 2019, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwamadistrict when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into aCRPF convoy, resulting in one of the deadliest assaults on Indian securityforces in recent decades. The Indian government swiftly attributed thestrike to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group, leading toheightened tensions, diplomatic fallout and the subsequent Balakotairstrikes by the Indian Air Force. This sequence of events significantlyinfluenced the national narrative leading up to the 2019 Lok Sabhaelections.
Samajwadi Party leader Sanatan Pandey, speaking to reporters in Ballia,Uttar Pradesh, asserted that the BJP, facing criticism for failing todeliver on its 2014 election manifesto promises, engineered the tragedy toshift public focus. He specifically highlighted unfulfilled commitmentssuch as creating two crore jobs annually, doubling farmers’ incomes,controlling inflation and repatriating black money stashed abroad.According to Pandey, the government resorted to this extreme measure afterfive years of perceived governance failures, using the attack to evokenationalistic sentiments and consolidate electoral support.
Pandey further questioned the source of the RDX explosives used in theattack, noting that successive investigations have not provided conclusiveanswers on how such a large quantity entered the region undetected. Hedescribed the incident as part of a pattern of alleged false-flagoperations, linking it to other historical events that opposition figureshave long claimed were politically motivated. His remarks have sparkedwidespread condemnation from BJP supporters, who view them as an insult tothe martyrs and a defense of external adversaries.
The timing of these allegations coincides with ongoing politicalpolarization in India, where security issues in Kashmir remain a sensitivetopic. Previous claims of security lapses and intelligence failures havesurfaced periodically, including statements from former Jammu and KashmirGovernor Satya Pal Malik, who alleged administrative oversights prior tothe attack. Such revelations have fueled skepticism among oppositionparties, though official inquiries have consistently upheld the role ofnon-state actors from across the border.
Critics of the government argue that the Pulwama incident provided apivotal boost to the BJP’s campaign, transforming a potential electoralsetback into a decisive victory through a wave of patriotic fervor. Datafrom opinion polls conducted before and after February 2019 indicate anotable shift in public mood, with national security emerging as a dominanttheme. The BJP, however, has dismissed such theories as baseless propagandaaimed at undermining the armed forces and national unity.
The controversy underscores deeper divisions in Indian society over howterror incidents are interpreted and utilized in political discourse. Whilethe official position remains that Pakistan-backed militants wereresponsible, recurring accusations from opposition voices keep the debatealive, especially as India approaches future electoral cycles. Observersnote that such claims often gain traction during periods of heightenedpolitical competition, influencing public perception and media narratives.
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This latest outburst has prompted calls for a fresh, impartial review ofthe Pulwama case to address lingering questions about intelligencecoordination, convoy security protocols and the explosives’ supply chain.Yet, with the passage of years and entrenched positions on both sides,resolution appears distant, leaving the incident as a persistent point ofcontention in bilateral and domestic contexts.
Source:https://aninews.in/news/national/politics/pulwama-attack-a-bjp-conspiracy-sp-leader-sanatan-pandeys-absurd-claim20251231132723/
Tags: India, Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party, Pulwama Attack
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