Marking six years since the 2020 Delhi riots, experts convened at the Indian Law Institute under the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA) to unravel the violence’s role in broader regime change efforts and information warfare. Participants included seasoned diplomats, ex-officials, top cops, legal minds, and public intellectuals, offering deep insights into the events’ anatomy.
SN Srivastava, former Police Commissioner of Delhi, kicked off deliberations by positioning the riots within a global template of orchestrated chaos for political upheaval. He vividly described police dilemmas: rioters banked on aggressive crackdowns to escalate tensions, much like scenarios in Bangladesh and Nepal, turning law enforcement into villains in the public eye.
Delving into contemporary conflict dynamics, Sanjeev Tripathi, ex-head of RAW, illuminated ‘fifth-generation information warfare.’ Riots, he argued, function as instruments for building narratives, psy-ops, and disinformation campaigns in hybrid wars, where social media amplifies chaos exponentially.
Highlighting narrative supremacy, Ambassador Veena Sikri referenced Bangladesh’s playbook, underscoring who controls the story holds the power. Effective perception shaping and global communication strategies, she noted, profoundly sway political destinies.
Monika Arora, GIA coordinator, branded the riots a deliberate ‘test case’ for governance subversion, urging ongoing education and vigilance. Chandar Wadhwan, a prominent citizen, scrutinized ‘deep state’ machinations and their ripple effects.
Wrapping up, GIA pledged continued efforts in awareness campaigns, scholarly research, and evidence-driven discussions to fortify society against similar ploys, transforming hindsight into proactive defense.