Modi's 'Operation Sindoor' Sparks Women's Rights Debate
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a symbol of masculinity to his supporters, led a military assault against Pakistan on 7 May 2025. Dubbed 'Operation Vermillion', the offensive was named after the traditional orange-red powder worn by married Hindu women. Two women commentators, who questioned the operation, were investigated and arrested, labeled 'terrorist sympathizers' by Hindu nationalists.
The operation, Modi claimed, destroyed nine major terror hideouts in just 22 minutes. He stated that vermillion, not blood, boils in his veins, a remark that has sparked controversy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, has been accused of patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes, despite claiming to be pro-women.
The assault was a response to the killing of 26 Hindu men by The Resistance Front in Kashmir. However, opposition parties allege that the BJP has politicized the military offensive and has not yet arrested the six terrorists involved in the attack. The BJP's use of the term 'Operation Vermillion' has been criticized for reinforcing the belief that women's identity is bound up with their marital status and the need for a 'saviour' if their husbands are killed. Despite its claims of being pro-women, India remains the sixth most dangerous country in the world for women, with increasing crimes against women between 2014 and 2022.
The military operation and the subsequent controversy have raised questions about the BJP's stance on women's rights and nationalistic sentiments. The arrest of the two women commentators has further fueled the debate, with many calling for a more inclusive and progressive approach to national security and women's rights.
