Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in India is facing mounting pressure and skepticism following a series of controversial military operations, including “Operation Mahadev” and the recently announced “Operation Shiv Shakti.” Once hailed for its tight narrative control and display of strength, the Modi administration is now contending with deepening questions about the authenticity and political motivations behind its actions, both in Parliament and on the ground in Occupied Kashmir.
The situation escalated when the Indian Army announced “Operation Shiv Shakti,” claiming to have neutralized two alleged foreign militants in Poonch. However, local residents in Kashmir immediately challenged the official narrative, asserting that the men killed were not foreign infiltrators, but rather local individuals. These claims, surfacing in a region long plagued by disputed encounters, have further fueled suspicions that the operation was more of a political performance than a legitimate security action. In a climate of rising mistrust, such allegations have severely undermined public confidence in state institutions.
The controversy comes on the heels of “Operation Mahadev,” which was portrayed as swift retaliation for a deadly attack in Pahalgam. The Indian government claimed the operation was a decisive strike against terrorists, but the evidence presented quickly drew criticism. The recovery of Pakistani-made chocolates and voter ID cards from the slain militants raised eyebrows, especially as Pakistanis do not use voter IDs but rather Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). The clumsy nature of the evidence not only sparked ridicule but also opened the door to accusations of a staged false flag operation designed to distract from internal failures.
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This growing skepticism is being echoed within India’s political corridors as well. Rahul Gandhi’s recent speech in Parliament, where he directly challenged Prime Minister Modi to address statements made by former US President Donald Trump and respond to China’s strategic maneuvers, marked a rare moment of visible vulnerability for Modi. His hesitant response, marked by a pause and a quiet sip of water, was viewed by many as a crack in the usually assertive and tightly choreographed leadership persona he projects.
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Public dissatisfaction is not confined to opposition figures. Even within BJP’s traditional support base, especially among the Brahmin community, frustration is growing. Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of Shubham Dwivedi—one of the victims of the Pahalgam attack—publicly expressed her disappointment with the government. Her poignant statement accused Modi of ignoring the victims while focusing on political point-scoring. Her account, contrasting the silence of the ruling party with the empathy shown by opposition members, adds a deeply personal dimension to the government’s declining credibility.
The Modi government is now at a critical crossroads. Its strategy of building a political narrative around strong leadership and military victories is increasingly being seen as superficial, especially when inconsistencies and questionable evidence continue to emerge. With domestic criticism intensifying, international observers taking note, and grassroots support showing signs of erosion, the BJP faces a challenge that goes beyond politics—it must restore the trust of a public that is starting to believe it has been misled.
What was once a carefully controlled political narrative is now unraveling, revealing the growing disconnect between the government’s claims and the public’s perception. As questions multiply around the authenticity of high-profile military operations and the government’s handling of national tragedies, the coming months will determine whether Modi can reclaim the trust of a nation growing weary of rhetoric and hungry for truth.
