Anti-CEC protest: Mapping key players, organisations shaping overseas campaigns

The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protests over the NEET paper leak, that rocked New Delhi in June, have since broadened into a campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. With the Congress, Left parties and other opposition groups joining the protests, questions have emerged over whether the mobilisation is entirely organic or is being amplified by a wider network of domestic political actors, overseas advocacy organisations and international campaign groups.

Are international NGOs, global activists and India's political Opposition working in tandem to put pressure on the Indian government? An examination of the connections cited by the groups involved offers a broader picture of how a domestic political protest has gained international visibility.

From prominent political figures and foreign institutions to overseas events featuring YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, this report examines the organisations, individuals and networks associated with mobilisation.

This investigation does not establish direct financial funding linked explicitly to specific domestic protests in India, but it maps out the transnational networks and personnel driving their international mobilisation.

RAHUL GANDHI AND THE GLOBAL PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE CONNECTION

One of the key institutional links cited in this network is the Global Progressive Alliance (GPA), an international grouping of left-wing, socialist and social-democratic political parties.

Top leadership post for Rahul Gandhi: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, serves as a member of the GPA's Presidium for Asia, while his close adviser Sam Pitroda is an active board member.

December 2025 German Tour: When Gandhi undertook a five-day visit to Germany in December 2025, Pitroda publicly confirmed that the trip was connected to Gandhi's role in the GPA.

International reaction to domestic protests: In July 2026, when Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during student demonstrations over the NEET paper leak, the GPA issued a statement on X criticising the police action and saying it was monitoring the situation closely.

The statement drew attention to the involvement of an international political grouping in a domestic Indian controversy involving one of its leadership members. However, the GPA's public support for the protesters does not, by itself, establish that it directed or coordinated the demonstrations.

BJP'S ALLEGATIONS: THE GEORGE SOROS FUNDING ANGLE

The involvement of international progressive networks in Indian political protests has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Allegations of foreign funding: At a press briefing in December, 2025, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that the GPA network was linked to institutions backed by billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his Open Society Foundations (OSF).

Alleged indirect channels: The BJP also pointed to links involving European civil-society organisations, including Germany-based Campact, which has received OSF funding. The party alleged that such connections helped link Western political circles with Indian Opposition strategies.

These remain political allegations. Evidence of funding received by an organisation does not, on its own, establish that the donor directed its activities or coordinated a particular protest.

DHRUV RATHEE'S LONDON EVENT AND OVERSEAS ACTIVIST NETWORK

The international dimension of the mobilisation came into focus during overseas events, including a London gathering featuring YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and demonstrations in support of the CJP in New York.

Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) has been associated with campaigns critical of the Modi government and has promoted protests under the slogan "Jantar Mantar Is Everywhere!" across cities in the United States and the United Kingdom. The organisation also participated in the London event featuring Rathee.

Similar demonstrations were organised or announced in several international cities, including:

- Austin, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago in the United States
- Melbourne in Australia
- London, Dublin, Berlin and Manchester in Europe
- Toronto and Vancouver in Canada

HfHR ORGANISES NEW YORK RALLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH CJP

HfHR promoted a rally at Union Square in New York on October 18, featuring speakers including Abby Govindan, Aatish Taseer, Shaifali Puri, Mandeep Minhas, Shruti Ganguly, Shivani Parikh, Yashica Dutt and Anurima Bhargava.

Several of these individuals have publicly criticised the BJP-led government's policies on issues including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), citizenship, Kashmir, farmers' protests, minority rights and caste. Their criticism has often focused on allegations of majoritarianism and authoritarianism.

Among the speakers was Aatish Taseer, a British-born writer and journalist who wrote Time magazine's 2019 cover story, "India's Divider in Chief", which was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian government revoked his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, citing issues relating to his father's Pakistani origin. Taseer has challenged the decision.

HfHR also shared posts supporting Neha Bora after her detention during a protest in Delhi. Its co-founder, Sunita Viswanath, publicly expressed solidarity with Bora and amplified calls for her release.

On October 19, Viswanath posted images and videos from Union Square with the caption, "Jantar Mantar is everywhere!"

HfHR also helped mobilise international expressions of solidarity with the CJP's July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, with demonstrations reported or announced across North America and Europe.

The locations included New York's Union Square, San Jos City Hall, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Fremont, Austin, London, Dublin, Berlin, Manchester, Toronto and Vancouver.

According to organisers, more than 500 students and community members gathered near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at New York's Union Square on July 24.

KEY PLAYERS IN THE MOBILISATION NETWORK

Several individuals and organisations have featured prominently in the activities surrounding these protests. Their documented associations, however, need to be distinguished from claims that they jointly coordinated the mobilisation.

1. Sunita Viswanath and Hindus for Human Rights

Founding and organisational links: Sunita Viswanath is the co-founder and executive director of HfHR, a US-based advocacy organisation. She has also participated in events alongside groups such as the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC).

The Alliance for Justice and Accountability: HfHR was established in 2019, alongside IAMC and the Organisation for Minorities of India (OFMI), as part of the broader network associated with the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA). The coalition spearheaded protests against Prime Minister Modi's “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in September 2019.

Some accounts have alleged that these networks overlap with Western and Pakistani intelligence interests, including Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Such allegations require specific, independently verifiable evidence and should not be treated as established facts merely because the organisations share campaign platforms or political positions.

Soros-linked funding: US financial records, including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 filings, reportedly show that Open Society Policy Centre Inc. awarded USD 60,000 to HfHR in 2020. Viswanath also leads Women for Afghan Women, an organisation that has received funding from the Open Society Foundations.

These funding links establish financial associations, but do not, without further evidence, demonstrate that Soros or his organisations directed HfHR's activities or the CJP protests.

Sunita Viswanath at Rahul Gandhi's 2023 US event: During Gandhi's US visit in May and June 2023, which included San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York, he participated in a discussion on US-India relations with policy experts at the Hudson Institute in Washington.

A photograph from the event shows Gandhi seated at a table with Viswanath nearby. Viswanath has said she was among approximately 50 attendees at the gathering, which she described as a public "DC town hall". The Hudson Institute also publicly acknowledged hosting Gandhi for the discussion.

The photograph and accounts of the event establish that Viswanath attended the gathering. They do not, by themselves, establish a formal political partnership or operational coordination between her and Gandhi.

2. Who is on HfHR's advisory board?

HfHR's official website lists the following individuals on its advisory board:

• - Harsh Mander
• - Aakar Patel
• - Rev Abhi Janamanchi
• - Anand Teltumbde
• - Father Anand Matthew
• - Anantanand Rambachan
• - Apoorvanand
• - Balmurli Natrajan
• - Faisal Khan
• - Khalid Anis Ansari
• - KP Ramanunni
• - Linda Hess
• - Mallika Sarabhai
• - Martin Macwan
• - Medha
• - Rajmohan Gandhi
• - Swara Bhasker
• - Syeda Hameed
• - Teesta Setalvad
• - TM Krishna

Important qualification: HfHR's website states that advisory board members do not necessarily endorse every statement or position taken by the organisation, just as the organisation does not necessarily endorse all their views. Membership of the board should not, therefore, be interpreted as blanket endorsement of the organisation's campaigns.

3. Salil Shetty's association with Rahul Gandhi

On October 11, 2022, Salil Shetty, then a vice-president of George Soros's Open Society Foundations and a former secretary-general of Amnesty International, was seen walking alongside Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The public appearance established an association between the two at the event. It does not, on its own, establish coordination between the Open Society Foundations and the Congress party.

THE LONDON EVENT: SOUTH ASIA SOLIDARITY GROUP, CPI-ML AND UK PARLIAMENTARY LINKS

The London gathering featuring Dhruv Rathee brought together activists and organisations with links to South Asian political campaigns.

The South Asia Solidarity Group (SASG) was identified as the principal organiser of the London event. Its founders are Amrita Wilson and Kalpana Wilson.

Who is Amrita Wilson?

Amrita Wilson is an author and activist born in Kolkata in 1941. Her book *Finding a Voice* received the Martin Luther King Award. Her OCI status was revoked over alleged anti-India activities, a decision she is challenging.

Who is Kalpana Wilson?

Kalpana Wilson is a senior lecturer. She was accused of heckling and interrupting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a lecture at Birkbeck, University of London, in June.

The CPI-ML connection: Kalpana Wilson is married to Deepankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, or CPI-ML. Neha Bora, president of the party's student wing, the All India Students' Association (AISA), has also been associated with the protests.

These relationships and organisational links provide context for the political affiliations of some participants. They do not, on their own, establish that the organisations acted under a common command structure.

SASG backs the 'Jantar Mantar 2.0' march

The South Asia Solidarity Group expressed support for the planned “Jantar Mantar 2.0” march on October 10, 2026.

The group's campaign echoed several demands raised by the CJP concerning the Chief Election Commissioner and the SIR controversy. These included action against Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the SIR process, restoration of voting rights for people whose names were allegedly deleted from electoral rolls, cancellation of elections conducted under the SIR process and greater transparency and accountability in the Election Commission of India's functioning.

SASG also urged members of the Indian diaspora to amplify the movement's demands and expressed solidarity with the protesters.

UK parliamentary amplification

British MP Zarah Sultana, associated with Your Party, founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was among the political figures cited in connection with efforts to mobilise diaspora networks in the United Kingdom.

Sultana, whose family has roots in Mirpur, has used her political platform to raise issues concerning South Asia. HfHR publicly praised her on X for her role in mobilising support for the protests.

Her public support illustrates how the campaign's demands reached political platforms outside India. Establishing whether parliamentary activity formed part of a coordinated international strategy would require further evidence.

WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ESTABLISH, AND WHAT REMAINS UNPROVEN

The organisations and individuals examined here are linked through a combination of formal political affiliations, advocacy campaigns, funding relationships, public appearances and overseas demonstrations.

Three broad strands emerge:

1. Formal political networks: The Global Progressive Alliance provides an institutional link between Rahul Gandhi and an international grouping of progressive political parties.

2. Philanthropic and civil-society links: Funding records and organisational relationships connect some advocacy groups to philanthropic institutions, including entities associated with George Soros. Such links do not, in themselves, establish direction or control of political protests.

3. Diaspora mobilisation: Organisations such as HfHR and SASG have promoted campaigns and solidarity demonstrations in cities across North America, Europe and Australia, helping bring the CJP's demands to an international audience.

Taken together, these connections point to an international ecosystem of political organisations, advocacy groups and diaspora activists engaging with Indian domestic issues. However, the existence of overlapping affiliations, shared political positions or parallel protests is not sufficient to prove that the participants were operating in concert or under a centrally coordinated plan. Establishing that stronger claim would require evidence of direct coordination, instructions, funding tied to specific activities or other demonstrable links between the actors involved.

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