The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has often faced allegations of using national security issues and terrorism for political advantage.
These tactics, which have drawn heavy criticism, have now been openly exposed by Indian vloggers, including the prominent Neha Singh Rathore.
In her recent vlogs, Rathore bluntly exposed how the BJP manipulates security concerns and fuels war rhetoric to consolidate power. She claims that such strategies are part of a long-standing pattern, with the party’s leadership often exploiting major terrorist attacks to create a sense of national crisis. This strategy diverts attention from domestic issues, stokes fear, and strengthens the party’s grip on power.
Pattern of exploiting terrorist attacks
Over the years, several significant attacks have occurred during the BJP's tenure, raising questions about the timing and motives behind these incidents. High-profile events such as the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the Kargil War, the 2001 Parliament attack, and more recently, the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2025 Phalgham incident have all coincided with political movements and elections. Critics argue that these events often serve as a platform for the BJP to rally public support, craft a national security narrative, and divert attention from the country’s internal issues.
Bihar elections and the repeated tactic
As India approaches the Bihar elections, the BJP’s continued reliance on national security issues has again come under scrutiny. The party is accused of repeating its tactics of fear-mongering and security hype to gain political mileage. Notably, despite the intelligence and security failures following the Phalgham attack, no one in the government has resigned or taken responsibility. Instead, there is a clear push towards furthering a war agenda to distract the public and further their political goals.
Cost of political manipulation
The core of the criticism is that the BJP’s strategy involves exploiting the security situation for electoral benefit, at the expense of the country’s national well-being. In a desperate bid for power, the BJP is accused of using the lives of the poor and vulnerable as mere pawns in its political game. Such reckless actions, critics argue, expose the dark side of politics that prioritises power over the protection of citizens.
