Dharmendra Pradhan, who had resigned from the post of Union education minister after Cockroach Janta Party protests over paper leaks in July, accused Rahul Gandhi of using students as cover to destabilise India’s political system.Citing Bangladesh’s Gen Z uprising and calls for “regime change”, Pradhan alleged that the protests were part of a deliberate attempt to spread anarchy and challenge the country’s democratic order.In his post on X, Pradhan said the “true character” of protests launched in the name of national interest, fixing the system and students’ welfare was no longer hidden.“However, these anti-national elements dreaming of power on the strength of foreign forces should understand that in India, change of power is determined only through democratic processes,” he said, adding that the people would never accept what he described as an undemocratic mindset.Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Pradhan accused the Leader of Opposition of repeatedly disrespecting the people’s mandate and undermining democratic institutions when electoral outcomes did not favour the Congress.He alleged that the party sought to create distrust in constitutional institutions for political gains, adding that its approach reflected a mentality in which the rights of citizens had been trampled.“Rahul Gandhi, the anti-Constitution figure who roams around holding the Constitution, has been repeatedly rejected by the people,” Pradhan said, accusing him of insulting the electoral mandate and questioning constitutional institutions out of a desire for power.He described Rahul Gandhi’s alleged attitude towards democracy as “extremely shameful”.The Congress, meanwhile, defended its call for “regime change”, saying it referred to defeating the BJP through democratic elections rather than destabilising the country.Addressing a press conference titled “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai”, party leader Pawan Khera questioned defence minister Rajnath Singh’s allegations linking youth-led protests against the Election Commission to a Bangladesh-style political upheaval.“Changing the regime through elections is precisely the Opposition’s goal, what else would our purpose be?” Khera said, accusing the BJP of having “lost the habit of practising democracy”.The “regime change” remark emerged amid the ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.Student activist Neha Bora invoked Bangladesh’s Gen Z uprising, while senior advocate Prashant Bhushan described the agitation as a “fight for regime change”.
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The remarks drew criticism from BJP leaders, including Dharmendra Pradhan, who accused the protesters and opposition leaders of attempting to destabilise India’s political system.The controversy also brings renewed attention to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protests against Pradhan over the NEET-UG examination controversy, when protesters demanded accountability over alleged examination irregularities and questioned the government’s handling of the issue.
