By Abhijeet

Image from The Diplomat

When Blood is Spilled, Silence is Not an Option

Why does the Indian Left still hesitate when it comes to standing with their own country?
That’s a question I’ve been struggling with. Especially after recent incidents like the Pahalgam terrorist attack, where brave Indian soldiers were ambushed — and we barely heard a whisper from those who once claimed to stand for justice.

It’s 2025, and the ideological battle between Left and Right should have matured by now. But if you look closely, it feels like the Left still hasn’t evolved — and worse, it’s slowly drifting away from the very idea of putting the nation first.

When Terror Hits Us, Why is the Left So Silent?

Time to Wake Up

Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, June 2025 —
Five Indian Army soldiers were ambushed and martyred in broad daylight. The nation mourned. Social media erupted. But the Left intelligentsia and parties were shockingly quiet, once again.

Sound familiar? It should. We saw the same pattern after the Pulwama attack in 2019, where 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber. Instead of demanding justice or supporting decisive action, several voices from the Left either downplayed the event or raised doubts — almost as if national pain came second to political positioning.

Let’s be blunt: when Indian soldiers are dying, ideology cannot be an excuse for inaction or ambiguity.

The Left’s Ideology Has Drifted Far From the Nation

The Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded in 1925, once rooted in anti-colonial struggle. But today, it barely resonates with modern India’s concerns. Where were their protests when innocent schoolchildren in Rajouri were caught in crossfire? Where were their candle marches for Kashmiri Pandits or women assaulted during ethnic unrest in Manipur?

Instead, many prominent Left-aligned voices are more vocal about Gaza, Ukraine, or Western politics than about Bharat’s own challenges.

It’s not that global empathy is wrong — but when it consistently overshadows domestic tragedy, priorities must be questioned.

In Contrast, the Right Took a Stand, Not a Safe Position

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also turns 100 this year. Critics label it “regressive” or “divisive,” but on-ground reality paints a different picture.

• Disaster relief during the Kerala floods? RSS volunteers were there.
• COVID-19 crisis? RSS and its wings helped with oxygen, food, and cremation aid.
• Kashmir after Article 370? The Right stood with the decision, despite global criticism, because they believed in a unified India.

Whether you agree with every policy or not, the Right has consistently put India first — unapologetically.

What Happened to the Left’s “Voice of the Voiceless”?

The Left once claimed to represent farmers, tribals, workers, minorities — and in many historic moments, it did. But today, it has retreated into elite academic circles and echo chambers.

Even on tribal issues — like the displacement in Bastar or the violence in Manipur — its response is often ideologically filtered, not grounded in present-day facts or national interest. Meanwhile, terms like “equality” and “welfare” have been absorbed into mainstream governance, from Ayushman Bharat to PM Awas Yojana. These aren’t just Right-wing programs — they’re results.

The Left keeps talking theory. The Right delivers outcomes.

Left vs Right: A 21st Century Rethink Needed

The old Left-Right binaries don’t work anymore. Today’s political compass should be based on:

• Who’s securing India’s borders?
• Who’s helping build self-reliance (Atmanirbharta)?
• Who’s standing with soldiers, not just slogans?

The Right doesn’t just talk nationalism — it owns responsibility when crisis hits. From Balakot surgical strikes to tough stances on border security, the action has been clear. Meanwhile, the Left remains busy debating colonial legacies, quoting Marx, and reacting to global think pieces, while the ground in India keeps shifting.

A Message to the Indian Left: Reform or Become Irrelevant

This isn’t a blind cheer for the Right. India needs all sides to function in a healthy democracy.
But if one side stops standing up for the country, while the other side embraces it with commitment and risk — then the imbalance must be called out.

The Left needs to evolve — or risk becoming an ideological museum exhibit.

Start by asking: When my own soldiers bleed, do I speak up or stay quiet?
That answer alone reveals where your politics truly lies.

Politics Can Wait. The Nation Can’t.

India is a 21st-century powerhouse with 1.4 billion dreams. It needs courage over confusion, clarity over convenience, and national interest over narrative control.

So yes, the battle between Left and Right continues.
But only one side is showing up when it matters most.

Stop Lecturing. Start Listening.

It’s frustrating to see the same old narratives from the Left — complaining about India’s global image, comparing it to Western democracies, and mourning over the past. But when it comes to standing up for our soldiers, our sovereignty, and our spirit, they hesitate.

This isn’t a call for blind nationalism. This is a wake-up call for responsible citizenship. You can’t build a better society if you forget who you’re building it for. And you certainly can’t inspire a nation if you can’t stand with it when it bleeds.

We Need Unity, Not Ideological Excuses

Today’s India isn’t just about Left or Right. It’s about clarity over confusion. About standing together in crisis. About speaking up when your country is under threat, instead of hiding behind ideological walls.

And while the Right may not be perfect, it’s at least speaking one simple, timeless truth:

Bharat comes first. Everything else comes after.

Why the Left’s Ideology No Longer Resonates

In today’s India:

• Welfare schemes (once a Leftist idea) are now implemented by Right-leaning governments. From PM Awas Yojana to Ayushman Bharat, these are no longer “left” agendas — they’re mainstream.
• The digital generation no longer relates to 1950s-style Marxist theory. They care about security, growth, opportunity, and national pride.
• Meanwhile, the Left remains caught up in university politics and Twitter activism, failing to connect with people at the grassroots.

The result?
The Right is leading, because it listens, acts, and speaks in a language India understands: Nation First.

Let’s ask some honest questions:

These aren’t opinions. These are public facts. And more and more Indians — especially the youth — are seeing through the ideological fog.

Issue	Right-Wing Approach	Left-Wing Reaction
Terror Attacks (Pulwama, Pahalgam)	Strong retaliation, public solidarity	Silence or deflection to international issues
Welfare Schemes	National rollout with digital efficiency	Ideological resistance, calling it ‘election stunts’
Cultural Identity	Promotion of indigenous roots, festivals, languages	Labelling it ‘majoritarianism’ or ‘regressive’
National Defence	Backing defence forces and modernisation	Skepticism, often calling it ‘militarisation’

So What Now?

Global Issues Matter, But Home Comes First

This is not about ignoring global injustice. But your own country must come before commentary on others. When your soldiers die and your response is silence — but your social media is active for causes in Gaza or Minneapolis — something is wrong with your priorities.

It’s not “nationalism” vs. “liberalism”. It’s respect vs. negligence.

As a curious observer, I feel we’re in a space where our ideologies no longer fit our realities. We need new frameworks. We need a politics that understands today’s India — complex, digital, diverse, young, and impatient.

Let’s stop fighting old battles with outdated weapons. Let’s imagine a new political language — one where justice, freedom, and dignity are not just slogans, but experiences people can feel. And if we don’t… well, we risk becoming just another confused chapter in India’s long, winding political history.