A major political controversy erupted on Friday after senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan stated that the ongoing agitation over alleged electoral roll irregularities has evolved into a “fight for regime change”.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, Bhushan defended the call to oust the elected government, asserting that creating disaffection against a regime without inciting violence is a democratic and constitutional right.
He added that continued administrative suppression of protests would only propel youth and civil society onto the streets.
Bhushan’s remarks drew immediate, sharp condemnation from top ruling leaders. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused groups of using youth as pawns in a “politics of chaos” inspired by foreign unrest.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders including Sambit Patra and CR Kesavan claimed the statement proved the campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was merely a “smokescreen” to seize power undemocratically.
BJP spokespersons emphasised that in a constitutional democracy, governments are altered through ballot boxes rather than street mobilisation.
