NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem of pursuing a regime change agenda after student leader Neha Bora referred to Bangladesh’s Gen Z movement while discussing youth led protests in India.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari cited an undated video interview featuring Bora, a student leader associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA), in which she said the Gen Z movement witnessed across India had first emerged in Bangladesh. She also congratulated people in Bangladesh for showing the way and expressing solidarity with young people in India.
Bhandari described the remarks as an admission of an alleged attempt to replicate the political developments in Bangladesh in India. He accused Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem of seeking more than political opposition and claimed their objective was to bring about regime change. These allegations were presented as the BJP’s interpretation of Bora’s comments.
Bangladesh witnessed weeks of student led protests in 2024 that escalated into widespread unrest and culminated in the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.
In the video, Bora drew parallels between the movements in the two countries, arguing that both were concerned with democratic and voting rights. She also linked the protests to opposition to religious fundamentalism and expressed hope that young people in India and Bangladesh could work together towards a better South Asia.
Her remarks come amid demonstrations by Opposition parties and student activists over alleged electoral irregularities and demands for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bora recently joined leaders of the INDIA bloc in a march towards the Supreme Court in connection with the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi subsequently described the various protests as part of a broader movement to protect the Constitution, saying the Opposition was willing to support anyone committed to safeguarding democratic principles.
Bora has gained prominence through speeches on constitutional rights, inequality and government accountability. She attracted wider attention during protests over alleged examination paper leaks in July and has since participated in demonstrations in the national capital.
The latest controversy has intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the Opposition over the objectives of youth led protests and the interpretation of democratic resistance in India.
