Dear Prime Minister, you left many questions unanswered!

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I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of this country, deeply disturbed by recent events. The past two weeks have been marked by chaos, confusion, and crisis. The reason for such disturbance is not just the so-called war, but the circumstances that created the war like frenzy in the country and the abrupt end of the same. Several questions kept on haunting me for the last few days. Unfortunately, the popular media added more noise than clarity. when I learned that you would address the nation, I hoped for answers. But your speech too left several critical issues unaddressed. Let me elaborate.

The nation witnessed a strong military response following the brutal attack in Pahalgam that killed innocent civilians. As an ordinary citizen I always expect that the person who committed the crime should be arrested or captured first. Despite the scale and intensity of India’s military counteroffensive, the individuals believed to be responsible for this heinous act are yet to be captured. So, the question that still haunts me, what efforts are being made to track and capture them, and why haven’t we seen visible results in terms of arrests or identifications?

Right from the day-one of the Operation-Sindoor, we were informed that citadels of terrorism have been demolished. I am ready to accept the claim. I fully trust our armed forces and have no doubt about their capability and commitment. But what is not clear is the outcome of such an exercise. Military action may be the most visible response, but sustainable peace demands a deeper strategy. Without dismantling the broader ecosystem that supports extremism, such threats can easily revive with the passage of time. As aptly said by Albert Einstein, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Are we investing equally in intelligence, diplomatic pressure and social conversations, or are we relying too heavily on destruction as a standalone measure?

We were told that over 100 terrorists, including top-level operatives, were eliminated in the Operation Sindoor. This is indeed a significant achievement. I too join you in saluting our armed forces. However, we have received little information about those who were eliminated. Transparency on these matters builds trust and reassures people that meaningful blows have indeed been dealt to the terrorist. I would like to believe that terrorist have been killed, but as an ordinary citizen of this country I would also like to get more information about those got killed in the operation such as what roles did they play in past attacks in our country? And how were their identities confirmed?

Your decision to cut short your international trip and return to the country immediately after the attack was appreciated. Your public declaration that our war will not stop till terrorism is completely eliminated resonated with the people. Just when we felt that India was making headway in dismantling terror infrastructure and terrorism, the sudden announcement of the ceasefire has led to widespread confusion. The sudden shift from aggressive military action to a ceasefire has left many questions unanswered. Why ease pressure when the offensive seemed to be gaining ground? Was this a strategic pause or a sign of retreat?

There is another issue that has been quite disturbing too. It deals with the naming of the operation. The name “Operation Sindoor” represents the marital dignity of Hindu women. Terrorism targets people of all communities, and victims are not limited to any one identity. In a diverse nation like India, in such moments of national grief, national responses should be named in more inclusive terms. I am still at a loss in understanding the spirit behind the naming of operation. Shouldn’t a national military response reflect the unity and diversity of our nation?

As our country steers through the current sensitive phase, we, the people of India, are ready to stand behind the government in its fight against terrorism, but we too deserve transparency and inclusive leadership. I write this note with a hope that citizens’ voices will be heard, their questions acknowledged, and their concerns addressed. We all share the pain of the tragedies arising due to terrorism. We cannot have islands of peace and prosperity with the fear of war all around. I would like to end my note with the popular but powerful speech of Martin Luther King in April 1967. Declaring his opposition to the Vietnam War, Dr King said, “The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America.”

In a similar vein, I urge you to prevent missiles and misguided individuals from destroying the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

With hope and respect,

DV Ramana

An ordinary citizen of India

Jkj

Professor, Xavier Institute of Management, XIM University, Bhubaneswar

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Professor of Accounting, XIMB