UPDATED: Oct 13, 2026 22:23 IST
A debate on India First, anchored by Gaurav Sawant, examined allegations of foreign-funded student protests aiming to destabilise India's economic growth. Congress spokesperson Mohan Kumar Mangalam firmly rejected claims of foreign interference, stating that 'dissent does not mean sedition' and cautioned against leveling unverified accusations without hard investigative evidence from agencies like the ED or NIA. He defended citizens' rights to peacefully demonstrate against electoral irregularities and state crackdowns. BJP national spokesperson Sanju Verma countered by presenting India's macroeconomic metrics, including projected 7% GDP growth, while accusing opposition narratives of weaponising foreign-backed agendas. She emphasised that under Article 19, the right to protest is subject to reasonable restrictions regarding public order, morality, and security personnel safety. The anchor concluded by reiterating that while democracy guarantees every citizen a voice, protests must remain peaceful and institutional disagreements belong within courts of law rather than street clashes.
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