Retired Indian Army Major Gaurav Arya Calls for Open Genocide: Demands Israel Drop 100 More Bombs on Lebanon and 50 on Gaza; Indian Government Remains Silent

In a shocking display of inflammatory rhetoric broadcast on national television, retired Indian Army Major Gaurav Arya has openly advocated for escalated Israeli military action that critics describe as a blatant call for genocide against civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. The remarks, made during a heated debate on Command Centre - a prime-time show on News18 India, a channel owned by Mukesh Ambani, India's richest individual through Reliance Industries and Network18 - have ignited widespread outrage on social media, with many accusing Arya of glorifying mass violence.

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting a retired Indian soldier.

He says Israel should drop 100 more bombs on Lebanon and 50 on Gaza.

On a channel owned by the richest Indian pic.twitter.com/IL3UoodqiP

- Parth MN (@parthpunter) April 15, 2026

The clip, shared widely on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Parth MN (@parthpunter), shows Arya, dressed in a black shirt and gesturing aggressively, urging Israel to intensify its bombing campaign without restraint. Despite the gravity of his statements - which appear to endorse the indiscriminate killing of civilians in two conflict zones - the Indian government has taken no steps whatsoever. There has been zero condemnation from the Ministry of External Affairs, no action by the Army or veterans' welfare authorities, and no intervention by regulatory bodies like the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) or the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Critics argue this silence reflects a troubling tolerance for hate speech when it aligns with certain geopolitical narratives.

Arya's comments come amid ongoing Israel-Iran tensions and the broader Middle East crisis, but they cross into dangerous territory by explicitly calling for hundreds more bombs on populated areas, a move human rights groups have repeatedly labeled as disproportionate and potentially genocidal under international law.

Full English Transcript of Major Gaurav Arya's Statement (from the News18 India broadcast clip):

"Ladies and gentlemen... Israel should drop 100 more bombs on Lebanon and 50 on Gaza."

(The above is the core direct quote highlighted in the viral clip. The full 47-second segment features Arya speaking passionately in the panel discussion, with on-screen graphics referencing "Command Centre" and war analysis. No additional verbatim English dialogue beyond this explosive recommendation is transcribed in the circulating video; the rest involves visual emphasis, gestures, and context from the debate on regional conflicts involving Iran, Hamas, and Israel. The statement is delivered in English during the live TV segment.)

This is not the first time Arya, a retired Short Service Commission officer who has appeared frequently on Indian news channels, has courted controversy with extreme pro-Israel and anti-neighbor rhetoric. Social media reactions have been swift and fierce:

• Users called him a "disgraced officer" and "radicalized piece of shit," with some noting his past claims of Indian Army incursions into Pakistan.
• Others labeled his views as "barbarism" and an "embarrassment to India," questioning why such figures continue to get airtime on a major network.

As the video continues to go viral (over 15,000 views within hours), questions mount: Why is a retired soldier given a platform to advocate what many see as open calls for genocide? And why has the Indian government - which is quick to act on other forms of "hate speech" - failed to take any steps, such as issuing a statement, restricting his media appearances, or directing the channel to issue a clarification?

This incident raises serious concerns about media accountability and the normalization of genocidal language in Indian public discourse, especially on a channel backed by the country's wealthiest tycoon. The lack of any governmental response only amplifies the perception of impunity.