‘India is neither Bangladesh nor France’:Rijiju says regime change can happen, but only through elections

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday alleged that a conspiracy similar to the violent incidents that had previously taken place in France and Bangladesh was also hatched in India. Some leaders tried to provoke young people and spread violence on the streets. Rijiju said those who hatched such a dangerous conspiracy had forgotten that India is neither Bangladesh nor France. A change of government is certainly possible in India, but only through elections, not through Soros. Alongside his post on X, Rijiju also shared a video showing Rahul Gandhi and Neha Bora. A video of Neha Bora supporting the violent protests in Bangladesh had emerged two days earlier. Neha Bora says India’s Gen Z movement was inspired by Bangladesh Two days ago, Neha Bora sent a video message congratulating the Socialist Students’ Front (SSF) of Bangladesh on its sixth central conference. In it, she said India’s Gen Z movement had drawn inspiration from the movement in Bangladesh. The SSF was active in the Bangladeshi student movement and in the events leading up to the coup. Neha Bora’s full video message Our red salute to you. The Gen Z movement taking place in India today first began in Bangladesh, and we are grateful to you for showing us the way. We know the movement that began in Bangladesh was for democracy and voting rights. The movement in which young people are taking part in India today is also a fight to protect democracy and voting rights. We know that young people in Bangladesh are fighting religious extremism, and Gen Z in India is fighting the same battle. Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University are facing difficult circumstances amid growing threats and attacks. The situation is similar in India, where our institutions and central universities face widespread curbs on student rights. There is a push to privatise education, educational institutions are being saffronised, and critical thinking is being suppressed. BJP accuses Rahul of conspiring to destroy democracy BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari said: “What happened in Bangladesh is clear. An Islamist group used mob violence to create chaos and attempted to overthrow the entire system. Their goal was regime change. Neha Bora also wants a Bangladesh-style anarchic movement in India.” Bhandari added: “It is now clear that when Rahul Gandhi fails to bring his family to power through democratic means, he, along with his entire ecosystem, is conspiring to destroy democracy in India. Rahul’s aim is not democratic protest, but to legitimise anarchy.” Neha Bora, active in protests from NEET paper leak to SIR In July this year, Neha Bora came into the spotlight during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests over the NEET paper leak, which demanded the Education Minister’s resignation. She also joined an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi alongside social activist Sonam Wangchuk. She returned to prominence in October, during protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and highlighting alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. On 10 October, she was detained by police during a protest in Delhi. In a video released during her detention, she said: “I am in custody, not protesting.” Videos of her speeches and demonstrations went viral on social media. Joins march with Rahul Gandhi, attends gathering at his residence On 12 October, Bora was seen at the head of the INDIA bloc march in Delhi, alongside Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rahul Gandhi was seen walking with his hand on her shoulder. On 13 October, she attended a tea party at Gandhi’s residence at 5 Sunehri Bagh Road. Representatives of opposition parties, student organisations and civil society took part.