According to reports, Neha Bora drew parallels between the student-led uprising in Bangladesh and protests in India over issues including the alleged NEET examination paper leak and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has sparked a political controversy after saying that the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh inspired her and others involved in protests against the central government in India. Her remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to reports, Neha Bora drew parallels between the student-led uprising in Bangladesh and protests in India over issues including the alleged NEET examination paper leak and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She also praised the role of young people in movements demanding democratic and voter rights.
Offering a red salute to those associated with the movement, Bora said the Gen Z movement witnessed across India had first emerged in Bangladesh. She thanked the people involved in the uprising for showing the way and expressing solidarity with young people in India.
Bora further said that the movement in Bangladesh had centred on democratic and voter rights, adding that young people participating in protests in India were also fighting for similar rights. She also drew a comparison between the fight against religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh and what she described as a similar struggle among young people in India.
BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Neha Bora’s Statement
Reacting to Bora’s remarks, the BJP targeted Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the AISA president’s political outlook reflected the Congress leader’s ideology.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticised the ongoing protests and alleged that those participating in them wanted a change of government. He claimed that the movement was being presented as a democratic agitation while seeking to create disorder.
Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Bhandari said Bora’s words reflected what he described as Rahul Gandhi’s political ideology. He also accused Gandhi and his supporters of attempting to promote an anarchic movement in India similar to the events witnessed in Bangladesh.
Bhandari referred to the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh and alleged that Islamist groups had used public unrest to challenge the existing political system and pursue regime change. He further accused Gandhi and his political ecosystem of attempting to undermine Indian democracy after failing to secure power through electoral means.
The BJP leader’s remarks added to the political exchange over Bora’s comments, with the Bangladesh uprising becoming a point of contention in the debate over student-led protests and opposition politics in India.