SIR Protests: Prashant Bhushan Says ‘We Want Regime Change’, BJP Hits Back With 'Bangladesh' Jibe

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday openly endorsed the demand for regime change amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, prompting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to accuse Congress of seeking Bangladesh-like regime change and pursuing an agenda of anarchy.

Bhushan defends call for regime change

Bhushan argued that opposing a government and seeking its removal were legitimate democratic activities.

“The government alleges the Opposition wants a regime change. We are currently fighting to ensure that elections are conducted properly. But if this kind of brutality continues, there will certainly be regime change. Yes, we all want regime change,” he said.

“What is wrong with that?” he asked, pointing out that the BJP itself had led movements seeking regime change.

Bhushan also argued that expressing disaffection towards a government was not a crime in a democracy. He warned that attempts to suppress protests would only bring more people onto the streets.

Rajnath Singh accuses protesters of seeking anarchy

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday accused Congress of using protests against the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to capture power by creating disorder.

“They want to change the regime like in Bangladesh,” Singh said at a press conference in Lucknow, alleging that the party’s fight was neither for the Election Commission nor against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, but for power.

“Rahul Gandhi and his supporters must understand that democracy is not a licence to create anarchy, harm constitutional institutions or hinder India's progress,” he said.

Singh urged Gandhi to respect the people’s mandate and introspect on his political role, rather than disrupt political processes in the name of protecting democracy.

“They want regime change like in Bangladesh and have openly said at press conferences that they draw inspiration from the country’s movement and want to bring down the government. This clearly shows that their sole agenda is to destroy democratic institutions,” Singh said.

Bangladesh protests become political flashpoint

The controversy intensified after the BJP circulated a 39-second video clip of Neha Bora discussing the youth-led protests in Bangladesh.

BJP spokesperson Pradip Bhandari cited the remarks on Thursday as evidence that the protesters intended to replicate the developments in Bangladesh.

The BJP accused Gandhi, who has been leading the protests against the Chief Election Commissioner, of backing an agenda that went beyond opposition to the electoral roll revision exercise.

The exchange has sharpened the political confrontation over the SIR exercise, with the BJP portraying the protests as an attempt to destabilise the government and Bhushan defending regime change as a legitimate democratic demand.