New Delhi: Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal on Saturday launched a sharp counterattack on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, rejecting the latter’s claim that the Congress was pursuing a Bangladesh-style “regime change”. Sibal instead insisted that the demand for a change of government was coming from the public itself, PTI reported.
The war of words escalated after Singh, speaking at a press conference in Lucknow on Friday, alleged that the Congress and its allies were attempting to replicate the political upheaval witnessed in Bangladesh.
He also accused the opposition of harnessing the energy of young people to create disorder rather than directing it towards constructive national work.
Singh had said that democracy did not grant anyone the right to spread chaos or weaken faith in constitutional institutions. He claimed that the Congress and its partners, along with organisations backing them, were seeking to push the country towards confrontation and anarchy.
Responding on X, Sibal wrote: “Rajnath Singh: You allege that Congress wants ‘regime change’ the Bangladesh route. No. People want ‘regime change’.”
The Independent MP further said: “Protests with the slogan ‘India against corruption’ brought you power. Then: You embraced corruption; captured institutions; manipulated voters list. Time to go!”
Sibal’s remarks referred to the anti-corruption movement that preceded the BJP’s rise to power, while alleging that the ruling dispensation had since indulged in corruption, taken control of institutions and tampered with electoral rolls.
Defending his position, Singh had earlier stated: “It appears that the Congress and its political allies, directly and through their supporting organisations, are trying to use the energy of the youth to fuel political confrontation and spread anarchy instead of channelling it towards constructive work and nation-building.”
“The youth of the country are being made pawns in the politics of anarchy,” Singh said, alleging that the Congress and its allies wanted a change of government on the lines of Bangladesh.
The confrontation follows protests in the national capital against alleged irregularities in the electoral process, which the BJP has portrayed as an attempt to destabilise the government and derail India’s progress.
