Recent Terror Attack and Political Response
The April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam reminded India of the ongoing threat to peace.
Instead of political unity, past crises like Pulwama saw political parties using such events for electoral gains.
This politicisation weakens India’s ability to build a long-term, united security strategy.
Security Must Rise Above Politics
Terrorism needs a strong, united, and strategic response — not reactions driven by party ideology.
National security decisions should be bipartisan and based on collective wisdom.
Examples like the Kargil War (1999) and the 2016 surgical strikes show how unity across parties strengthens national responses.
Global Lessons in Bipartisanship
After 9/11, U.S. political parties worked together to strengthen security.
In New Zealand, both parties supported strict gun laws after the 2019 Christchurch attack.
In Europe, bipartisan support emerged for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion.
These examples show that democracies can and should unite in the face of major security threats.
India’s Past Example of Unity
In 1994, PM Narasimha Rao sent Opposition leader A.B. Vajpayee to represent India at the UN on the Kashmir issue, showing true bipartisan spirit.
Sadly, such gestures of mutual respect have faded in today’s bitter political climate.
Current politics is deeply polarised, with little room for shared national vision.
Dangers of Polarisation and Social Media
Political discussions have become more extreme, with "us vs. them" mindsets.
Social media is often used to spread division for political benefit.
Political discourse on national security often turns into blame games, weakening India’s response to real threats like terrorism from Pakistan.
Call for a Unified Security Doctrine
India needs a clear, consistent national security doctrine, unaffected by election cycles.
Defence and counter-terrorism policies must be created with cross-party agreement and remain steady, regardless of the ruling party.
True leadership means putting the nation above party interests and responding to crisis with unity, not division.
Conclusion
Bipartisanship is essential for India’s security.
Lawmakers must act as statesmen, not just politicians.
A secure and united India depends on collective political maturity and responsible governance.
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