Gaurav Arya, a retired military officer and frequent TV commentator who styles himself as “Major,” has built a public image on warmongering and communal provocation. On May 19, during a speech in Farmagudi, South Goa, Arya openly glorified violence, declaring that “a nation flourishes in the shadow of the sword” and that a Hindu nation could only be built through bloodshed. He warned his audience to identify internal enemies, an unmistakable dog whistle.

He insisted they should not be forgiven but “beheaded,” suggesting that the only real power comes when blood is spilt.

In another instance, on May 8, amid the tensions of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ he launched a communal slur at Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, calling him a “son of a pig” in a YouTube broadcast on his channel Chanakya Dialogues. Arya even displayed Araghchi’s face with the word “PIG” emblazoned across it, accusing Iran of siding with Pakistan purely because “they are both Muslim countries.” He ended the tirade by threatening Iran with a joint attack by Jews and Americans, an inflammatory remark designed to provoke religious and diplomatic tensions.

Though he regularly appears on Indian news channels as a defence expert, Arya’s conduct reflects anything but the discipline of a former army officer. His career and credibility have also come under scrutiny: a Newslaundry investigation revealed that he did not meet the criteria to retain the title of “Major (Retd)” under the Ministry of Defence’s pre-2021 rules, yet he has long used the title for public clout.