Picture a Delhi newsroom, all chrome and tickers, where anchors in sharp blazers howl about Pakistan like it’s the neighbor who stole their bike. The Pahalgam massacre—26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, gunned down on April 22, 2025, in Baisaran Valley’s postcard meadows—has given India’s TV news a tragedy to milk. From April 25 to May 4, the top 10 prime-time shows turned it into a pageant of war drums, CGI jets, and patriotic flexing. Are they itching for a fight with Pakistan? Or just chasing the next shampoo ad? Let’s slice through the noise with a smirk and no time for sanctimony.

The Lineup

These are the 9 PM heavyweights: The Debate (Republic TV), Aaj Tak Prime Time (Aaj Tak), News Hour (Times Now), Left, Right & Centre (NDTV), India Upfront (India Today), DNA (Zee News), Taal Thok Ke (News18 India), Prime Time (India Today), The Big Fight (NDTV), Aar Paar (India TV). They’re shaping how India processes the Pahalgam horror—a Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked attack that killed 26, targeted Hindus, and sparked trade bans, LoC clashes, and enough hot air to choke a valley.

The Script: Pakistan’s the Villain, Crank the Volume

Pahalgam was a gut-wrench: tourists herded, asked their religion, and shot, leaving 26 dead, one a local pony rider. It’s the kind of tragedy that demands reflection, not a loudspeaker. But Indian TV doesn’t do subtle. By April 22, the narrative was set: Pakistan’s behind it, and India’s owed justice. Republic’s Arnab Goswami, who could out-scream a banshee, led the charge. His April 25 show pushed hashtags like “#WeWantRevenge” and pinned the ISI to every Kashmir shadow, evidence optional.........

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