BJP launches counteroffensive to discredit protests, accuses Opposition of plotting 'Bangladesh-type regime change'
New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The ruling BJP on Friday escalated its counter-offensive against INDIA Bloc and CJP, launching top leaders like party president Nitin Nabin and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to dismantle and discredit their protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Nabin said the use of terms like 'regime change' clearly exposed the opposition's real agenda before the nation. "This malicious attempt to destabilise India in collaboration with foreign forces is part of the 'Urban Naxal' agenda. The opposition's fight is not about electoral reforms, SIR, or the future of the country's youth, but about spreading anarchy in the country and seizing power at any cost," Nabin said "In a democracy, the path to power runs through the people's mandate, not through anarchy. The patriotic people of India and the BJP will never allow any attempt to weaken the country's democratic system to succeed," he added Meanwhile, sources indicate the Narendra Modi Government is also planning a "special session of Parliament soon" to achieve its two linked objectives-delimitation of constituencies and 33 pc Women's Quota. It is in touch with the DMK and other parties to tackle the two-third majority mark issue in the Lok Sabha and politically push the Congress and INDIA Bloc further into a corner.
Notably, even though poll-bound Uttar Pradesh have seen negligible protests against the ECI and SIR, Singh took the lead in Lucknow with direct accusation of a "planned, undemocratic regime change" against the protestors. Addressing media, Singh accused not only All India Students' Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan of attempting a "Bangladesh-style regime change by using India's youth as pawns to fuel political unrest and anarchy," he also roped in Congress and INDIA Bloc in the attack. "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," Singh said.
The BJP's counter followed Bora's praise for Bangladesh's Gen-Z uprising, stating that it "showed the way" for youth movements. Bhushan, too, defended the term at a media interaction on Thursday. "We all want regime change. Is there anything wrong with that? Regime change is a democratic right of every citizen, and creating disaffection against the government is not an offence," Bhushan said.
Observers say the BJP is targeting Rahul Gandhi because he is the principal face of the Opposition and because Bora participated in his recent protest march. By branding the movement a "regime change operation," the aim is to shift the public focus away from the Opposition's grievances centering on alleged irregularities in the SIR under Gyanesh Kumar. BJP sources say people like Bora and Bhushan themselves "presented them with the counter-strategy with such anarchic statements. Congress Pawan Khera hit back saying they are openly fighting for a change of government through legitimate, democratic elections, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy.
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