MP Saket Gokhale slams Modi government over Pahalgam terror attack, demands accountability
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale has launched a scathing attack on the Union Government over its handling of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left over 26 civilians dead. In a strongly-worded social media post, Gokhale questioned the absence of government accountability and criticised the mainstream media for allegedly suppressing the issue while promoting a communal narrative.
"The events of the last two days have been shocking and unacceptable," Gokhale wrote. "How long will we allow the government to get away with zero accountability while the media hides its failures and pushes a communal agenda?"
Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, Gokhale described the attack as a "ghastly terrorist incident" and said the nation's thoughts and prayers were with those affected. However, he was quick to call out what he described as a "complete failure" of the government's security apparatus.
"For years, the Modi government kept boasting that 'everything is normal' in J&K," Gokhale stated, recalling repeated declarations in Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah about normalcy in the Valley. He also criticised the focus on showcasing Kashmir to international delegations, claiming it came at the cost of genuine internal security.
"Did Indian tourists not deserve the same level of security as foreign dignitaries?" he asked.
The MP noted that in the 48 hours since the attack, there had been no honest admission of an intelligence failure by the government. He also targeted mainstream media outlets, accusing them of failing to ask tough questions and instead shielding the government from scrutiny.
"Not a single legacy media house has raised any questions on what happened. How long will the BJP and the media belittle the deaths of innocent Indians to protect the Modi government?" Gokhale asked.
He further criticised Home Minister Amit Shah for not issuing a public apology or taking responsibility for the security lapse.
While expressing confidence in the Indian Armed Forces to bring the perpetrators to justice, Gokhale warned against the politicisation of the tragedy. "The BJP has become active using this tragedy for inciting communal hate. How low can a political party go when fellow Indians have lost their lives?" he said.
He concluded with a demand for basic accountability, stating, "The least that Modi and Shah can do is apologise for the failure that led to this attack. It's the job of the media to demand that. Because, remember, they will be the first ones to shamelessly claim credit when our Armed Forces neutralize the attackers."
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Jio Studios has withdrawn its trademark application for 'Operation Sindoor': Reliance Industries
Mumbai: Reliance Industries has clarified that it has no intention of trademarking the term "Operation Sindoor", describing it as an evocative symbol of Indian bravery that belongs to the national consciousness. The company issued a statement on Friday, stating that its media arm, Jio Studios, had filed a trademark application inadvertently and without proper authorisation.
The statement read, "Jio Studios, a unit of Reliance Industries, has withdrawn its trademark application, which was filed inadvertently by a junior person without authorisation." It added that the company and all its stakeholders take immense pride in Operation Sindoor, which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in response to a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam. "Operation Sindoor is the proud achievement of our brave Armed Forces in India's uncompromising fight against the evil of terrorism," the company stated.
The clarification came after reports emerged that Reliance Industries, along with three other individuals, had submitted trademark applications for the term 'Operation Sindoor' under Class 41 of the Nice Classification. According to a report by Bar and Bench, the applications were filed between 10:42 am and 6:27 pm on May 7 by Reliance Industries, Mumbai resident Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, retired Group Captain Kamal Singh Oberh of the Indian Air Force, and Delhi-based lawyer Alok Kothari. All four had marked the term as “proposed to be used,” suggesting possible commercial use in the future.
Class 41 of the Nice Classification covers a wide range of services, including education and training, film and media production, live performances, digital content and publishing, and cultural or sporting events. It is a category commonly used by OTT platforms, broadcasters, production houses, and event organisers—leading to speculation that 'Operation Sindoor' might be used as a title for a film, documentary, or series.
The incident also sheds light on the lack of legal protection for the names of military operations in India. Currently, the Ministry of Defence does not register or treat such names as intellectual property, and they are not automatically safeguarded. This means that private individuals or companies can file trademark claims over such names unless specific legal steps are taken to prevent it.
