“Bharatiyata": The key To Addressing Bharat's Internal Security Threats, Advocates Maj Gen Narayana

Internal security remains a cornerstone of India's national stability, encompassing challenges like terrorism, radicalisation, cyber threats, and communal unrest. Experts emphasise that safeguarding internal stability requires addressing geopolitical pressures, ideological warfare, and societal divisions. Strengthening law enforcement, fostering intelligence capabilities, and creating robust counter-narratives are crucial. At the Jaipur Dialogues 2024, "Internal security" specialists explored these issues, offering insights on reforming education, tackling external influences, reigniting pride in Ancient Bharat and uniting citizens to build resilience against threats, ensuring a secure and united Bharat.

Challenges to India's internal security: Insights from Jaipur Dialogues 2024

The Jaipur Dialogues 2024 brought together leading experts on internal security to discuss the complex and multifaceted threats India faces today. The panel included former defence personnel, intelligence officers, and security strategists who highlighted the challenges posed by terrorism, radicalisation, geopolitical tensions, and ideological warfare. Their perspectives, though varied, collectively underscored the urgent need for a holistic approach to internal security that integrates law enforcement, technology, policy reform, and a strong counter-narrative.

Understanding Internal Security

Aadhi Achant, founder and host of Def Talks, a popular geopolitics show on YouTube, set the tone for the panel discussion by raising the alarm that the radicalisation of youth is more dangerous than physical assaults. According to Aadhi, this ideological subversion has far-reaching consequences beyond conventional warfare.

He began the discussion by posing a pertinent question to the panellists: Do India's internal security forces "truly appreciate the designs" of external forces aimed at Bharat's integrity?"

A historical perspective on threats

Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan, AVSM, V.S.M. (V), a Strategic Thinker on Defence & Geopolitics, provided a historical lens, tracing the roots of internal security challenges to the colonial era. "Internal security is not a new phenomenon; it has been there since 1870," he said, highlighting how the British deep state sought to suppress Indian aspirations. Post-independence, he argued, the threat evolved with leftist ideologies, radical Islam, and later, communist influences, creating a network he termed the "LCM gang."

Narayana stated that this deep state's ultimate goal is to install leaders who would act as proxies, implementing policies detrimental to India's sovereignty. "The very foundation of Bharat has been hollowed out by a narrative that makes the youth feel inferior about their race, culture, and history. This is akin to a house with no doors and windows—how do you prevent a thief from getting in?" he asked rhetorically.

Geopolitical dynamics and internal security

Colonel RSN Singh, a former officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), underscored the impact of geopolitics on India's internal stability. With 16 states "sharing borders" with neighbouring countries, nine coastal states and four Coastal Union Territories, Singh highlighted how hostile nations like Pakistan and China exploit these vulnerabilities. "While we've erected physical barriers, have we been able to create ideological barriers?" he questioned.

Singh contested the relevance of the Indian Constitution's original framing in today's age, arguing that it was rooted in a law-and-order perspective rather than accounting for contemporary geopolitical realities."If the Constitution were written today, it would prioritise internal security, factoring in the challenges posed by our neighbours," he said. Singh also called for a reassessment of Delhi's statehood status, emphasising its centrality to national security.

Ideological and narrative warfare

The experts agreed that countering ideologies hostile to Bharat is paramount. General Narayana stated, "Terrorism will die, but ideologies survive." He stressed the need for counter-narratives to combat divisive forces that exploit religious, caste, and regional identities.

Shesh Paul Vaid, former director general of police at the Jammu and Kashmir Police, warned that even though organisations like the Popular Front of India (PFI) have been physically dismantled, their ideological roots remain intact. "PFI's plan was not just to create unrest but to weaponise youth under the guise of physical fitness training, ready to act during conventional wars with hostile neighbors," he said.

Vaid also highlighted the role of foreign-funded NGOs in creating internal disturbances, urging stricter scrutiny and action. "We are in a state of *Ghara Yudha* (internal war), fueled by multiple mini-Pakistans that have emerged across Bharat," he asserted.

Systemic issues and political complicity

Several speakers pointed to systemic failures within India's internal security apparatus. Vaid criticised the bureaucracy and democratic setup for their lack of understanding of ideological warfare. He cited examples of protests, such as the farmers' agitation and university demonstrations, where political complicity undermined national security.

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, an Indian political analyst, commentator, and researcher, argued that years of mismanagement and appeasement politics had weakened India's internal defences. He noted the resurgence of movements like Khalistan, with support from "Breaking India" forces, continue to challenge Bharat's integrity from within and abroad. "The system that's supposed to ensure India's internal security is itself rotten," he remarked.

The panelists proposed various solutions to address these challenges:

Counter-narratives and education reform

General Narayana emphasised that the battle against divisive ideologies begins with education. "Fixing our education system" from the grassroots to the top is critical. We must instil pride in our culture, heritage, and history, he said.

Revisiting the Constitution

Colonel Singh backed revising the Constitution to reflect the realities of modern geopolitics and internal security. He suggested reevaluating "federal structures," including "Delhi's statehood," to better align with security imperatives.

One nation, one election

Vaid strongly supported the implementation of simultaneous elections across India. "Frequent elections not only strain resources but also break the "national resolve, impacting nation-building efforts," he argued.

Strengthening ideological barriers

The speakers stressed the importance of creating robust ideological defences against external influences. Singh noted that hostile nations rely on ideological warfare to exploit India's internal divisions, a strategy Bharat must counter effectively.

The path forward

The discussion at Jaipur Dialogues 2024 revealed that Bharat's internal security challenges are deeply intertwined with historical, ideological, and geopolitical factors. While physical barriers and law enforcement play a crucial role, the experts agreed that winning the ideological battle is equally vital.

As General Narayana aptly concluded, "To secure Bharat, we must instil pride in Bharatiyata - that is, dignity in its history, culture, and past. The path forward requires a concerted effort across education, policy, and narrative-building to safeguard the nation's integrity and stability.

(The author is the founder of My Startup TV, an online channel for startups and MSMEs)