Former Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha has stirred the nation by igniting a fresh Pahalgam attack controversy. In a bold interview, he accused the Modi-led government of staging the recent Pahalgam incident for political gain. He said the attack was not linked to any external force but was rather a “drama” planned to influence the upcoming Bihar elections.
Sinha, once a senior BJP figure and now a vocal critic, drew sharp parallels between the Pahalgam event and the 2019 Pulwama attack. He claimed the BJP had used national tragedies in the past for electoral success. “Just like Pulwama happened before elections, this is also being used to score political points,” he said.
He accused the ruling party of manipulating national security issues to shape public opinion. “Modi sought votes in the name of Pulwama martyrs,” Sinha recalled. “Now, the same script is being repeated.”
The Pahalgam attack controversy has emerged at a time when nationalistic slogans are rising across India. With elections drawing near, Sinha’s claims have added more fuel to the already charged political atmosphere. So far, the central government has chosen to stay silent on his accusations.
Responding to Modi’s hardline stance that India will only discuss terrorism and Pakistan-administered Kashmir with Islamabad, Sinha pushed back. “Then there won’t be any talks,” he said. “Such rigid positions make dialogue impossible.”
In a second interview, Sinha criticized the government’s habit of turning every crisis into a political tool. “Every time someone like Rahul Gandhi asks tough questions, the BJP calls them traitors,” he noted. “If they truly believe that, why include Congress leaders in recent diplomatic visits?”
The veteran politician also demanded openness on military matters. He questioned the secrecy around recent casualties and operational losses. “We know the details from Kargil, 1965, and 1971 wars,” he said. “So why can’t the Foreign Minister tell us what really happened this time?”
He named top government figures—Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval—as those who must answer to the public. “They cannot keep hiding behind vague and fake claims,” he warned.
Sinha also addressed the BJP’s common tactic of labeling critics as Pakistani sympathisers. “I won’t back down,” he stated. “It’s my right to ask questions, and I will continue doing so. This is a democracy, and no one can take that right from me.”
The Pahalgam attack controversy has divided political circles. Opposition parties praised Sinha for his courage. Meanwhile, BJP spokespersons have chosen not to respond in detail—at least for now.
Sinha’s outspoken remarks have reignited old debates. And for many Indians, his words echo deep concerns about the government’s use of conflict and crisis for political mileage.
