Rajnath Singh Brings Up Hanuman in Lok Sabha While Discussing Operation Sindhu
Let’s Break This Down
So, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh dropped a bit of a bombshell in the Lok Sabha the other day. While tearing into how the previous government handled the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he casually name-dropped Hanuman—yeah, the monkey god. Now, that might seem random, but there’s method to the madness. He was making a point about India’s toughness against terrorism. And honestly? It got people talking—not just about the attacks, but why nobody at forums like BRICS seemed to care back then. Was it bad diplomacy, or is the whole thing more complicated?
1. What Exactly Did Rajnath Singh Say?
The Heart of His Argument
Singh brought up the 2008 attacks—166 lives lost, all because of terrorists from Pakistan. His main gripe? The UPA government didn’t push hard enough to get the world to call it out. “Check the records from back then,” he said. “Mumbai isn’t even mentioned.” Ouch. That’s a pretty direct shot at how things were handled.
Why Hanuman, Though?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Hanuman isn’t just some random mythological figure—he’s all about loyalty and strength. Singh was basically saying, “Hey, we need to be like Hanuman—unshakable when it comes to protecting our country.” Smart move, honestly. Hanuman’s a big deal across India, and the BJP’s always been good at tying culture into their politics. It’s not just symbolism—it’s strategy.
2. Rewinding to 2008: What Went Down?
The Attacks Themselves
November 26, 2008. Ten terrorists hit Mumbai, targeting places like the Taj Hotel and CST station. For 60 hours, the city was under siege. 166 people died, and it exposed just how unprepared India was for something like this. A real wake-up call.
How the World Reacted
Countries like the U.S. and UK were quick to condemn it, but Singh pointed out that bigger groups—BRICS, for example—stayed quiet. Why? Well, China’s in BRICS, and they’ve always had Pakistan’s back. Geopolitics, man. It’s messy.
3. The Political Back-and-Forth
The BJP’s Take
The BJP’s been saying for years that the UPA dropped the ball after 26/11—too slow to react, too soft diplomatically. Singh’s speech just turned up the volume on that argument, especially with elections around the corner.
The Opposition’s Comeback
Congress wasn’t having it, though. They shot back, saying they got UN sanctions against Lashkar-e-Taiba and pushed Pakistan diplomatically. Calling Singh’s comments “selective amnesia” was a nice touch—political sparring at its finest.
4. So, What’s Operation Sindhu?
The Mystery Op
Nobody’s saying much about Operation Sindhu, but the name’s been floating around. Seems like some kind of counter-terror mission. Singh mentioning it now? Probably a way to say, “Look how tough we are now.”
What It Could Mean
If this operation’s real, it might mean India’s done playing defense. Preemptive strikes? That’s the BJP’s style. Risky, sure—Pakistan won’t just sit back—but it sells well at home.
5. What’s Everyone Saying?
Twitter’s On Fire
#HanumanVsTerrorism started trending—no surprise there. Supporters loved the strongman vibe, while critics called it divisive. And of course, there were memes. Always memes.
What the Experts Think
Security analyst Sushant Singh put it well: “The Hanuman thing works symbolically, but fighting terror needs more than just metaphors.” Others pointed out how the BJP mixes nationalism with Hindu imagery like it’s second nature.
6. Wrapping Up
Singh’s speech was sharp—part criticism, part cultural rallying cry. The 2008 attacks still hurt, but framing them with Hanuman turns it into a call to stay alert. Bigger question, though: Can India actually turn global sympathy into real alliances against terror?
Quick FAQs
Why Hanuman?
To tie India’s fight against terror to something culturally powerful—and take a swipe at past governments.
How did the world react in 2008?
Some countries spoke up, but bigger groups stayed quiet. Politics as usual.
What’s Operation Sindhu?
No one’s saying much, but it sounds like a counter-terror move.
What did the UPA do after the attacks?
They went the diplomatic route—sanctions, pressure—but no military hit-back, which the BJP hates.
Source: News18 Hindi – Nation