Did JNU Students' Union President Demand Clarity on Indian Armed Forces Casualties in Operation Sindoor?

New Delhi, May 22 (NationPress) JNU Students' Union President Nitish Kumar has expressed grave concerns regarding the government's management of recent military events, specifically regarding “Operation Sindoor” and the Pahalgam terror attack.

Voicing his dissatisfaction over the obscurity surrounding these issues, he highlighted that while the nation witnesses the return of soldiers’ remains from various locations, there remains a lack of official statistics on the precise number of casualties endured by the Indian Army.

In an exclusive discussion with IANS on Thursday, Kumar urged the government to disclose accurate figures, asserting that the citizens have the right to be informed about the true toll of war.

While he firmly denounced the terror strike in Pahalgam, he criticized the government's immediate military actions against Pakistan, arguing that such responses seemed premeditated and neglected accountability for severe internal security failures.

In a context where India and Pakistan -- both nuclear powers -- are in conflict, he stressed the importance of de-escalation and diplomacy over aggressive rhetoric. Kumar also raised alarms about the disturbing rise in communal violence following the attack, particularly against Muslims.

He accused the government of not only failing to mitigate growing hatred but also exacerbating a divisive narrative. Advocating for a diplomatic strategy instead of outright warfare, he proposed that isolating Pakistan on the international stage for harboring terrorists would yield a more effective and sustainable outcome.

"The manner in which our defense forces reacted after the initial assaults was evident, but now we observe Pakistan claiming that the attacks were not solely on military sites but also on civilian areas. Although Pakistan's assertions hold little weight, the core issue remains: should such matters be settled through full-scale war, or should we pursue efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan in today's context?" Kumar questioned.

He referenced previous incidents, including those from 2018, as proof that military action alone has consistently failed to disrupt the cycle of violence.

Bringing up the potential for a plot to disturb internal harmony, Kumar cautioned that such attacks and their resultant reactions often heighten communal tensions, playing directly into the hands of factions aiming to divide the nation.

"Indeed, it could be a conspiracy. If such an assault was executed, it likely aims to unsettle the internal peace of the country -- to escalate communal discord. Historically, such events have been orchestrated to incite unrest within the nation,” he noted.

In his closing comments, Kumar challenged the government to elucidate whether the military operations had met their objectives -- whether the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack had truly been neutralized and if the situation in Kashmir, especially regarding safety and tourism, had shown improvement.

While he appreciated the Army's choice to conduct a press briefing, he criticized certain media factions for disseminating misinformation, denouncing what he described as “Godi Media” for inciting jingoism through irresponsible reporting of attacks on Karachi and Islamabad.

He reiterated the necessity for truth over theatrics. Kumar restated his worries concerning the absence of clarity on the actual number of casualties suffered by the Indian armed forces during the recent wave of violence. He observed that while the nation mourns the arrival of soldiers’ remains, the government has yet to provide a clear and official account of the losses.

“The Pakistani army has asserted that they caused considerable damage, but the Indian Army has also faced losses. We have not received any definitive information regarding how many soldiers have been martyred. We are only observing remains coming back from various regions, yet there is no official statistic on the martyrs. This is something the Army needs to clarify,” he stated.

Kumar condemned the terrorist attack but also criticized the government's management of the situation following the incident, particularly the escalation in communal tensions.

He highlighted the risks of intensifying hostilities between India and Pakistan and advocated for a diplomatic, internationally coordinated initiative to isolate Pakistan if it continues to support terrorism. Stressing that war disproportionately affects the underprivileged, he warned against resorting to military retaliation as a solution and instead called for strategic, long-term actions.

He also pointed out that occurrences of communal violence and misinformation from certain media outlets further undermine national unity and detract from the primary issue—ensuring the safety and security of every Indian citizen, particularly in sensitive regions like Kashmir.