🎥 BJP Leader Ravinder Raina’s Army Video Sparks Outrage Amid National Mourning — Here’s the Full Story
While the nation is still grappling with grief after the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, a political storm is brewing online. The spark? A video posted by BJP leader Ravinder Raina, showing him jogging in the snow alongside Indian Army personnel — a move that didn’t sit well with many, especially opposition leaders.
Let’s break down what exactly happened and why this has stirred such a massive political and emotional reaction across the country.
🔥 What’s the Video All About?
On Sunday night, Ravinder Raina, the former BJP president of Jammu and Kashmir and currently a national executive member, posted a 1-minute-14-second video on his social media handles including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. In the video, Raina can be seen running with uniformed soldiers through the snow-covered terrains, all while energetic patriotic music plays in the background. His post was simply captioned: “Jai Hind.”
Sounds patriotic? Maybe. But the timing of the video raised many eyebrows.
🕯️ Mourning a National Tragedy
Just days earlier, on April 22, a horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam had left 26 innocent people dead. The attack shocked the nation. Families were shattered, communities devastated, and the entire country plunged into mourning.
So, naturally, when Raina’s video popped up during this time of sorrow, it felt tone-deaf to many.
🔍 Opposition's Take: "Insensitive and Shameful"
The Congress Party was among the first to slam Raina’s social media post. They questioned not just the timing but also the intention behind the video.
“In Kashmir, terrorists killed 28 of our people (the count mentioned by Congress may differ slightly). The entire nation is grieving. But BJP’s former state president Ravinder Raina is busy making videos,” the Congress posted on X.
Yes, they didn’t hold back. The post even alleged that Raina was using a national tragedy to boost his online image, rather than showing genuine empathy.
Congress added,
“It’s clearly evident that Ravinder Raina feels no sorrow for this tragic event. Instead, he is trying to exploit it and is focused on polishing his image on social media.”
Ouch.
🤔 Is BJP Silent or Supportive?
Opposition leaders didn't just stop at calling out Raina. They also threw the spotlight on the BJP leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking if such actions are acceptable under their watch.
“But is this vulgar display acceptable to the BJP leadership and the Prime Minister? Shameful!” the Congress party added in a scathing remark.
🎠Shiv Sena (UBT) Joins In
It wasn’t just Congress taking shots. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also lashed out at the BJP leader, sarcastically calling out the “reel culture” in politics.
In a pointed tweet, she wrote:
“Reel game on point. If you have this kind of security, then of course a reel must be made.”
She didn’t stop there and took a jab at the priorities of the ruling party:
“Let the security forces guard the borders later — right now, protecting BJP leaders is the real priority.”
🗓️ Raina’s Clarification: “This Was Shot in January!”
Amid the storm of criticism, Raina finally broke his silence. He clarified that the video wasn’t related to the recent attack at all. In fact, he claimed it was shot way back in January, during heavy snowfall in the Kashmir Valley.
He posted this message on Instagram:
“I was working closely with our bravehearts to ensure safety of the people of Kernah Valley in district Kupwara of Kashmir. I was also stuck in heavy snowfall at Sadana Pass, and with the help of our soldiers, I reached a safer place.”
Raina further accused the Congress party of spinning the video for political gain, stating:
“Unfortunately, the Congress Party with a malicious intent has misrepresented this video as recent footage, which is nothing but false propaganda.”
📌 Let’s Put Things in Perspective
Here are a few things to consider before jumping to conclusions:
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❄️ If the video was really from January, it technically isn’t directly connected to the April tragedy.
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📅 But the timing of the post — just after the Pahalgam attack — is what created the perception problem.
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📲 In today's hyper-connected digital world, optics matter more than ever. Posting something upbeat or dramatic when the mood of the nation is somber can backfire — even if it wasn’t intentional.
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🎯 Political leaders, whether in the ruling party or opposition, must stay mindful of the public sentiment, especially during national tragedies.
🇮🇳 The Real Concern: Respecting National Sentiment
At the heart of the outrage is a very real, very emotional concern: How seriously do our leaders take national tragedies?
When 26 Indians lose their lives to terrorism, people expect leaders to stand united — with humility and empathy. A social media reel, no matter how innocent or unrelated, can look like an attempt to divert attention or self-promote, especially when people are in mourning.
⚖️ Final Thoughts: Miscommunication or Misjudgment?
This whole incident is a classic example of how perception can spiral out of control, especially in politics. Whether Ravinder Raina was genuinely trying to showcase solidarity with the Army or simply posting an old memory is now beside the point — the damage has been done in the court of public opinion.
And while the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) continue to criticize, this also opens up a larger debate:
“Are our leaders more focused on real work or social media optics?”
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