JNUSU President demands transparency on casualties in Operation Sindoor
slams government’s war rhetoric
New Delhi: JNU Students' Union President Nitish Kumar has demanded that the government release official data on the number of personnel casualties suffered by the Indian armed forces during the recently launched Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. Expressing concern over the lack of transparency, he stated that while the country continues to witness the arrival of soldiers’ mortal remains from various regions, no clear figures have been made public.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Kumar criticised the government’s post-attack handling of the situation, questioning whether the response was more performative than strategic. “The people of India have a right to know the true cost of this conflict,” he said, calling for the release of verified data on martyred soldiers.
While strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kumar questioned the government's swift military retaliation against Pakistan, suggesting that it appeared “pre-planned” and lacked accountability, especially in light of what he termed "serious internal security failures."
Highlighting the risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours, Kumar urged the government to pursue diplomacy and international pressure rather than war rhetoric. He advocated for isolating Pakistan on the global stage for its alleged role in harbouring terrorists, stating that “full-scale military retaliation is not a sustainable solution.”
Kumar also raised concerns over rising communal tensions following the attack, particularly targeting Muslim communities. He accused the government of allowing hate to spread and failing to prevent polarisation. “These attacks are not just about external enemies but also raise the possibility of conspiracies aimed at disturbing India’s internal peace,” he said.
He challenged the government to answer whether the military objectives had been achieved—whether the Pahalgam attackers had been neutralised and whether the situation in Kashmir had improved, especially regarding safety and tourism.
Taking aim at some media outlets, Kumar criticised the propagation of unverified claims, including supposed attacks on Karachi and Islamabad, labelling such coverage as "jingoistic theatrics" by sections of the “Godi Media.” He emphasised that “the nation needs truth, not theatrics.”
Kumar concluded by reiterating his demand for official confirmation of the number of casualties among Indian forces. “We are seeing bodies return home, but we are yet to receive a clear statement from the Army. The people deserve transparency,” he said.
Calling for a strategic, non-militaristic approach to national security, Kumar warned that misinformation and communal violence only serve to divide the country and undermine its long-term safety.
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Karnataka by-polls: Cong ahead in Bagalkot, BJP leads in Davanagere South
Bengaluru (PTI): Trends show Congress and BJP have maintained leads respectively in Karnataka's Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats, where counting of votes is underway on Monday, for the bypolls held for two seats on April 9.
The polls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
According to the Election Commission, Congress party's Umesh Meti was ahead of BJP's Veerabhadrayya Charantimath by a margin of 9,969 votes in Bagalkot.
In Davanagere South, BJP's Srinivas T Dasakariyappa was leading over Congress party's Samarth Mallikarjun by a margin of 8,539 votes.
Nine and 25 candidates were in the fray, respectively in the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly segments.
