On Friday, 9 May, at a time when India and Pakistan were waging an escalating armed conflict during Operation Sindoor, and citizens endured anxious nights wondering what new calamity lay ahead, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party put out a promotional video on its X handle.
The video focused on the so-called muscular nationalist persona of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It showed Modi the “strongman” glowering at the camera, with captions promising retribution, accompanied by warlike, emotional music.
The video was, frankly, appalling. It was insensitive and crude, and at a time when lives were being lost, and given that terrorists who gunned down innocents in Pahalgam had still not been caught, could not have been more ill-timed. The BJP had exhorted the Opposition not to play politics during Operation Sindoor—but its own video was openly and nastily political. Through its imagery, it painted the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government as weak and suggested it lacked the resolve to take on Pakistan.
Yet after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, it was the Manmohan Singh-led government’s patient and painstaking investigation, and years of carefully building an evidence-based case, that has today led to the extradition to India of the alleged mastermind, Tahawwur Rana. It was this solid evidence-building and presentation of facts that created such significant deterrence and international condemnation of Pakistan that from 2008 to 2014—the UPA years—Jammu & Kashmir remained largely free of major cross-border militant attacks. The Pahalgam attack has happened despite the “surgical strikes” of 2016 and the Balakot operation of 2019.
The BJP’s psychedelic “nationalism”, shown on TV with orchestral music in the background and Modi at the fore in Bollywood-hero-style outfits, misses the point on what patriotism means.
Nationalism of the BJP variety is focused on make-believe videos, media razzmatazz, Modi’s costume changes—one day a soldier in fatigues, next a commando sporting dark shades—and theatrical oratorical performances.
In contrast, principled patriotism is based on the values of justice, social harmony, inclusivity, and the rule of law. Principled patriotism is grounded in respect for all faiths and for democratic institutions.
The “media nationalism” of the BJP variety thrives on hatred of others, constantly throwing out labels like ‘jihadist’, ‘anti-national’, and ‘urban Naxal’ at anyone who questions the government. This shrill media nationalism is the opposite of principled patriotism.
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Principled patriots vs TV nationalists
The creed of the fake nationalists is my country, right or wrong.
The nation is seen as only a geographical entity defined by a particular religious and racial community. This blind ‘nationalism’ overwhelms any thoughtful and inclusive expression of patriotism. The desh-bhakti of BJP-RSS nationalists means rage against religious minorities, dissenters, artists, writers, comedians, historians, meat eaters, dissenting journalists, non-Hindi speakers, modern women, international NGOs, elite universities, all those repeatedly described as ‘urban Naxals’, and anyone who does not share their rigidly imposed view of the nation.
The BJP–Sangh Parivar’s so-called devotion to the country has degenerated into loyalty to a single political party. Their view is, if you’re not with us, you are against us. For these fake ‘nationalists’, the ‘nation’ is synonymous with the party, with the government to which they are blindly loyal, and with the political leaders to whom they are slavishly devoted.
But the principled patriot stands for higher ideals. The principled patriot loves her country, yet believes that it is precisely because she loves her country that her patriotism should not stop her from constantly asking whether the government of the day is genuinely protecting the interests of the people, whether it’s accepting responsibility and accountability to ensure that vulnerable, innocent citizens remain safe. The principled patriot believes in equality before the law, in rule of law, and in bringing the due process of law to every citizen. The principled patriot is a lover of liberty and believes every citizen is innocent until proven guilty by a rigorous, impartial legal system. Those guilty of heinous terrorism must be caught and strictly punished, but governments must not take the easy way out by bombing and demolishing homes, or use so-called ‘bomb justice’ and ‘bulldozer justice’ to bring retribution on the weak. Bulldozing homes as a means of law enforcement has been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.
The so-called TV ‘nationalists’ believe that ‘nationalism’ implies an end to all questioning and a blind worship of BJP politicians. This TV nationalism holds any questioning of the government as seditious and as acts of treason.
The principled patriot stands for positive aspirations towards her country and refuses to define her patriotism on hatred and violence toward others.
Facts as a casualty
The BJP social media army is an abusive force—an organised, mendacious machine that takes aim at the party’s opponents and unleashes slander and defamation against Modi’s critics. Taking a cue from it, the mainstream media in India has become something akin to a horror movie.
Nowhere was the mainstream media’s degeneration more evident than during the four days of Operation Sindoor. We saw a breathtaking display across channels of brazen lies manufactured on an industrial scale: “Pakistani pilot captured”, “Islamabad captured”, “Karachi port destroyed”, “Pakistani F-16s shot down”. It was a shocking display of what the BJP’s seeming capture of the media has done to journalistic truth-telling.
India’s mainstream TV media has been reduced to a disaster zone, a wasteland of falsehoods and propaganda, a firehose of fantasy, fakery, and brazen lies unleashed 24×7 on the unsuspecting public.
For the last decade, India’s TV media and its shrieking anchors have not only whipped up jingoistic frenzy and communal hatred, they have also failed to be the public’s window to the world. At the IMF board meeting to grant a $1 billion loan to Pakistan, India was the only one to abstain from voting in favour. China has openly declared its support to Pakistan and its determination to safeguard Pakistani sovereignty. And now US President Donald Trump has chosen to equate India and Pakistan as “great nations”, both of whom he wishes to work with. This has been another shock to those lulled into the delusion that Pakistan is a so-called “basket case” without allies.
President Trump has now offered to “see if a solution can be found concerning Kashmir.” This is an unprecedented internationalisation of the Kashmir issue, which every Indian government from 1947 onwards has firmly rejected. It is highly shocking that Operation Sindoor, a mission to punish Pakistan-based terrorists supported by all opposition parties, has now led to the alarming possibility of US meddling in Kashmir.
Today’s media has failed to keep us up to date on new geopolitical realities and the contemporary template of increasingly electronic warfare. India’s superior air power ensured precision strikes on Pakistan’s terror camps and air bases, but there are also worrying reports in the Western media of the downing of Indian fighter aircraft.
We don’t know exactly what damages we may have suffered in our military assets, but when the mainstream Indian media doesn’t investigate such reports, it fails in its constitutional duty of keeping the public informed. Hemmed in by the constant threat of being declared “anti-national” or “traitors”, the media is forgetting to be a source of truth. And real information. Unabashed lying has become the hallmark of this BJP-promoted TV “nationalism”.
Also Read: Rafale’s Sindoor strike thrilled TV war rooms—’Painted Pakistan red’, ‘Dharam bata diya’
It’s patriotic to ask questions
Today, among all countries, India is the number one in being at the highest risk of misinformation, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risk Report.
A highly embarrassing moment occurred in India-Iran relations just a few days ago because of the abusive language used by a prominent TV talking head, apparently ignorant of how quickly information travels.
In the grip of a blindly jingoist fantasy world, where media and social media create an echo chamber of hallucinations and delusions of invincibility, we are in danger of losing our grip on the real changes taking place across the world: in geo-strategy, modern warfare, information technology, and shifting global alignments.
TV nationalism has become a loud escapist performance, playing out on a screen near you, blinding us night after night to hard, urgent realities and the real suffering of people.
At least 16 civilians were killed in India’s border villages, particularly in Poonch, even as armchair “nationalists” thrilled to the orchestra of a TV war. Five soldiers died as well.
Invariably, it is valiant, faceless armed forces personnel and vulnerable communities living on the border who lay down their lives even as imaginary enemies are sought among India’s own citizens. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmiri students faced persecution in many parts of India—attacks that can only deepen alienation and resentment.
The fact is, it is a truth-telling, law-abiding, and inclusive society that stands as the greatest bulwark against the perpetrators of terrorism.
Away from TV nationalism, it’s time to build a principled patriotism. One that adheres to constitutional values and is unafraid to be inclusive, to build bridges, to reconcile across faiths and creeds, and to ask difficult questions. This is the kind of patriotism that strengthens the nation and takes away the raison d’être of the terrorist.
Recently, principled patriotism was best exemplified by Himanshi Narwal, a young woman widowed in the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, who still appealed for peace between Hindus and Muslims.
Principled patriotism is unafraid to question the government. It is precisely when India is seen as credible, just, and accountable that the terrorist is defeated in his purpose of creating anarchy and division. ‘TV nationalism’ legitimises and normalises violence, breeds copycat brutality in society, and worsens communal and social divisions. A citizenry whipped up by TV war games becomes weakened from within; instead a society marked by inclusiveness, empathy, decency, and rule of law stands as an implacable sentinel against the terrorist.
A former Army chief, VP Malik, showed principled patriotism when he publicly asked what strategic objectives Operation Sindoor actually achieved.
Ceasefire 10 May 25: We have left India’s future history to ask what politico-strategic advantages, if any, were gained after its kinetic and non-kinetic actions post Pakistani horrific terror strike in Pahalgam on 22 Apr.
— Ved Malik (@Vedmalik1) May 10, 2025
Such questions must be asked of the BJP government in the pursuit of principled patriotism. Why have the terrorists who killed innocents in Pahalgam still not been caught? Why were the border villages, where so many have lost their lives, not evacuated during the mock drills before the start of ‘Operation Sindoor’? Why did India find itself without any allies, and why did our diplomacy fail at the IMF? Above all, why was it the American President who first announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and took the credit? Yet, none of these questions are being asked by mainstream journalists. These are not “anti-national” questions. They are the necessary mechanisms of a functioning democracy where the national interest is fiercely defended.
Our national motto is Satyameva Jayate—Let truth triumph. Nationalism should not become a B-grade Bollywood movie, where TV noise drowns out accountability, responsibility, and truth. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, we must rebuild our principled patriotism.
A patriotism which is about the enduring values of responsible truth-telling and rule of law, not pantomimes of musical war games and misinformation and disinformation campaigns on TV.
Sagarika Ghose is a Rajya Sabha MP, All India Trinamool Congress. She tweets @sagarikaghose. Views are personal.
Good article. Well articulated.
oops Sagarika! Again?
It is to be noted that Mamata didnt open her mouth, neither did she offer gratitude to Indian army. She knows who her votebank is and any praise to India’s performance will hurt her ‘cash cows’ as she loves to call them publicly.
Defence historian specializing in aviation, Tom Cooper, has made a number of media appearances to call out the complete decimation of Pak. Care to listen to him and view his evidence? Or how about sourcing satellite images from Maxar Tech (the same US based geospatial firm who handed over Pahalgam images to its Pak based partner)?
You are right – if you are not with India, you are definitely against India. The dictionary terminology is ‘traitor’.
Lot of English and a 1000 words to say one simple thing. ” I hate the prime minister, but I don’t know why”…. The Print team should get better critics of govt than this.
You are ideological blind. Not only kashmir every where in India highest terrorist attack happened fro. 2008 to 2014. Shame your fake news.
False narrative, wrong facts , be honest and well informed and correct
Every country will have hatred filled narrow minded populace. When this number looms is when the country is in danger. Are we reaching that threshold ? A very well written article mam as always.
Thank you for publishing a much needed message in a country in which people get killed or beaten up for their religion for attacks that come from across an international border.
This message is to the Print editorial team, specifically to Mr Shekar Gupta. Sir how did you allow such a nonsensical article in your publication . im one of those of who speak highly of your work, though i confess, i am not a paid subscriber. Articles like these from agenda driven people will spoil your reputation. We are not against criticism, but this is nothing but a rant !
Shameless woman! You have always veen a disgrace to the profession of journalism.
Where were you when Hindus were being butchered in Murshidabad? Why did you not raise your voice against the targeted pogroms carried out by Islamists in Murshidabad?