'They openly say at press conferences that they have drawn inspiration from Bangladesh for regime change, while another speaks openly about bringing down the government,' says Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
TBS Report
16 October, 2026, 12:50 pm
Last modified: 16 October, 2026, 12:52 pm
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today (16 October) slammed the main opposition Congress and its allies over the protests in the national capital and accused them of seeking a regime change along the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of youth to spread "anarchy".
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Singh said, "They openly say at press conferences that they have drawn inspiration from Bangladesh for regime change, while another speaks openly about bringing down the government.
"This makes it clear that their only agenda is to dismantle democratic institutions and set the country on fire."
The senior BJP leader said the use of terms like "regime change" shows the opposition's campaign is not about electoral reforms or issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Singh's remarks apparently came against the backdrop of lawyer and rights activist Prashant Bhushan's statement at a presser at the Press Club of India in Delhi yesterday, in the presence of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students' Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora, that they are seeking a regime change and that there is nothing wrong with it.
The Indian minister said democracy does not give anyone the licence to create disorder or undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions.
"It appears that the Congress and its political allies, directly and through their supporting organisations, are trying to use the energy of the youth to fuel political confrontation and spread anarchy instead of channelling it towards constructive work and nation-building," he added.
"The youth of the country are being made pawns in the politics of anarchy," he stated.
His remarks come amid protests in Delhi by opposition parties, the Cockroach Janta Party and civil society groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
Singh said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his allies need to understand that democracy does not permit attempts to create anarchy, undermine constitutional institutions or obstruct India's development.
"Respecting the law is also essential to maintaining law and order. India's democratic institutions cannot be sacrificed at the altar of political self-interest," he said.
Singh asked Gandhi to introspect on his political role instead of pursuing what he called "politics of destruction" in the name of protecting democracy.