Riot - III

Rohan's day began early. The first light of morning filtered through the windows as his office bustled with activity.

Aides and officials moved quickly, preparing for the crucial meetings ahead. Rohan sat at his desk, skimming through the latest intelligence reports.

His mind was already racing with the crises demanding his attention.

Neeraj Kumar, his trusted private secretary, entered with a stack of documents.

"Good morning, Prime Minister," he said, his tone serious.

"The situation in Punjab is deteriorating. We've received fresh reports of clashes between refugees and locals. And there are increasing signs of extremist groups coordinating attacks. On top of that, our resource shortages are reaching critical levels."

Rohan looked up from the reports, his brow furrowing. "This is escalating faster than I expected," he muttered.

"We can't let it spiral out of control. Neeraj, assemble the senior officials. We need to act quickly."

By 9:00 AM, the conference room was filled with the country's top officials. The tension in the room was thick as Rohan entered and took his seat at the head of the table.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Rohan began, scanning the faces of his ministers.

"The situation in Punjab and across the refugee camps has worsened. I need a full update and, more importantly, a clear plan of action."

Home Minister V.K. Krishna Menon leaned forward, concern etched on his face. "Prime Minister, the violence in Punjab has escalated significantly. Armed groups are targeting both refugees and locals. Our forces are stretched thin, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain control."

Amar Singh, the Director General of Police, added, "The refugee camps are overwhelmed, sir. We're facing severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and sanitation facilities. The logistical challenges are immense, and the situation is critical."

Rohan absorbed their words in silence, the weight of the responsibility settling on his shoulders. He took a deep breath before speaking. "What immediate steps can we take to stabilize the situation?"

Menon was quick to respond. "We need to reinforce our military presence in the most affected areas, Prime Minister. Establish secure zones around the refugee camps to protect both the refugees and the local populations. Additionally, we should prioritize increasing the supply of essentials and deploying more medical teams."

Amar Singh nodded in agreement. "And it's crucial that we engage with international partners, particularly UN agencies. Their resources and expertise could be pivotal in managing the refugee crisis."

Rohan tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully. "Agreed. Let's implement these measures immediately. Neeraj," he turned to his secretary, "set up a task force to oversee both the security and humanitarian response. And make sure our communication with international partners is clear and effective. We can't afford any missteps."

As the officials dispersed to carry out their tasks, Rohan turned to Neeraj. "Get Aziz in here. We need to discuss the international dimension of this crisis."

Shortly after, K.K. Aziz, the Foreign Secretary, entered the room, followed by members of his diplomatic team.

The urgency in their steps mirrored the gravity of the situation.

"Aziz, we're dealing with a volatile situation here," Rohan began without preamble. "The Cold War is complicating everything. We need to secure international support, but we have to be careful not to align too closely with either the Western or Eastern blocs. What's our current standing?"

Aziz adjusted his glasses, consulting his notes briefly. "Prime Minister, we've reached out to several key nations, but the geopolitical climate is challenging. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union are eager to expand their influence in the region. We must be very careful in our approach."

Rohan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We'll accept aid from the West, but we must remain neutral. We can't afford to be seen as taking sides. Also, let's reach out to neutral countries and international organizations. Their support could be crucial."

Aziz agreed. "I'll make the necessary contacts, Prime Minister. We'll tread carefully."

Their diplomatic efforts soon began to bear fruit. Rohan secured a deal with the UK for critical supplies and financial aid.

Meanwhile, both the United States and the Soviet Union offered humanitarian assistance, provided India maintained its neutral stance in the Cold War.

As the day wore on, Rohan's attention shifted to the looming threat of conflict with Pakistan.

The ongoing violence between the two nations made the possibility of war increasingly likely.

Rohan called a meeting with General Karan Singh and Chief Intelligence Officer Rajeev Sharma.

"General Singh, what's the current status of our military readiness?" Rohan asked directly, his tone all business.

General Singh straightened in his chair. "Our forces are on high alert, Prime Minister. We're closely monitoring movements along the border and preparing for potential scenarios. However, the situation is fluid, and we need to be ready for anything."

Rajeev Sharma added, "We've intercepted communications suggesting that Pakistan is also preparing for conflict. The situation is volatile, sir. A single miscalculation could lead to a full-scale confrontation."

Rohan's face was set in a determined frown. "We need to strengthen our defenses immediately. But we should also explore diplomatic channels. General, initiate back-channel talks with Pakistani leaders. Let's see if we can find a way to de-escalate this before it's too late."

General Singh nodded. "I'll instruct our teams to proceed with caution, Prime Minister. We'll keep a close eye on any diplomatic overtures."

Rohan's focus then shifted to managing internal unrest.

He knew that addressing regional discontent was key to maintaining national unity. He arranged a series of meetings with regional leaders, including those from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Kashmir.

(In this AU all states were integrated in India before Rohan became the prime minister, well you can say this is the default setting of the universe)

The meeting with Assam's Chief Minister, Gopinath Bordoloi, was particularly tense. Bordoloi wasted no time getting to the point.

"Prime Minister Varma, while we appreciate the efforts toward integration, the people of Assam feel marginalized. The unrest we're seeing is a direct result of unmet expectations. Our region feels neglected in terms of resources and representation."

Rohan leaned forward, his expression earnest. "I understand your concerns, Chief Minister. The integration process has been challenging, and I know there are imbalances that need to be addressed. I promise you that I will personally review the resource allocation and representation issues. We need to find viable solutions to these problems, and we need to do it together."

Bordoloi looked somewhat reassured, but the tension in the room remained. "Thank you, Prime Minister. We'll hold you to that."

As the meeting ended, Rohan knew the discussions were difficult but necessary. Addressing these grievances was crucial to preventing further unrest.

Meanwhile, the economic crisis continued to put pressure on Rohan's mind.

He called a meeting with his Economic Advisory Council to discuss the ongoing challenges.

Ramesh Gupta, an economist, spoke first. "Prime Minister, we've managed to secure some alternative trade routes, but supply chains are still under severe strain. The Cold War is impacting our trade agreements and access to critical resources."

Meera Rao, another advisor, chimed in. "The distribution of aid remains a significant challenge. We're facing ongoing shortages in essential supplies, and the scale of this crisis requires sustained effort and coordination."

Rohan listened carefully, then made his decision. "We need to strengthen our partnerships with neutral countries and international organizations to secure additional support. I also propose establishing a central command for resource distribution to improve efficiency. We need to act quickly to stabilize the economy."

The council members nodded, already thinking of ways to implement these strategies.