The magnitude and timing of the Pulwama terror attack has jolted the nation. This is reflected in the questions people are asking on social media: How did the attack happen? Shouldn’t the government come up with a Pakistan-centric response? Who should we blame?
Some Twitter users also called out the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly ‘politicising’ the martyrdom of the CRPF personnel.
On Friday 15 February, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra announced that PM Narendra Modi would be cancelling all political events in the wake of the tragedy. His public meetings rallies in Dhar and Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh were cancelled.
But inaugurations and other events held under the pretext of ‘government functions’ became podiums for BJP’s election campaign, where Modi and his ministers talked about the achievements and made more promises that would be delivered if BJP is voted back to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Amid the sombre mood of the nation on the day of the attack, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said the decision to continue with the flagging off programme was inspired by the way Mumbai reacted by showing their resilience in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks. Modi, in his address, talked about his government’s hard work and sincerity.
Later, on 15 February, on his Jhansi visit, Modi urged voters in Uttar Pradesh to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and ensure a strong government at the Centre.
All this did not bode well with the Twitterati and many called the BJP out for delivering political speeches and talking about BJP’s achievements less than 24 hours after a national tragedy.
One Twitter user accused Modi of using Pulwama to win elections, just like he “used the 2002 Gujarat pogrom to become CM”.
Another commented that Modi only works for the BJP and general elections.
Narendra Modi visited Bihar on Sunday, 17 February, to inaugurate some central projects. “To the people who have gathered here, I would like to say the fire that is raging in your bosoms is in my heart too,”he said.
Twitterati saw this too as an attempt to secure his vote bank.
BJP President Amit Shah was far more direct during his speech in Assam on 17 February. He said that the sacrifices of the soldiers will not go in vain as it is BJP in the Centre, not Congress. He also said the BJP won’t let Assam turn into ‘another Kashmir.’
Twitterati said he was ‘milking a tragedy.’
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also condemned the government for politicising the Pulwama attack.
Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav asked Amit Shah not to use the national tragedy for partisan politics.
BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj took the theatrics one step further when he boarded the vehicle carrying the mortal remains of soldier Ajit Kumar Azad, in Unnao on 16 February and was seen laughing and waving at the crowd.
He was slammed by the Twitterati who called the act ‘disgusting’ and ‘outrageous’.
Many Twitter users recounted the inaction of the government 96 hours after the attack.
The accusations of “milking” the tragedy is a message for the government that the public doesn’t want politics in this case, but concrete action.
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