‘Regime Change Neither Happened Nor Will It Happen’: Mohan Bhagwat Urges Constitutional Limits on Protests

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said “regime change has neither happened nor will it happen”, while referring to protests in France and developments in Albania, Nepal and Bangladesh. He urged all sides involved in protests to respect the Constitution, the law and norms of public conduct.

Addressing the Sangh’s centenary-year Vijayadashami function at Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur, Bhagwat said demonstrations over social problems and shortcomings in the system were natural. However, protesters, administrators responsible for law and order, and political leaders all had a responsibility to act within constitutional limits.

He urged leaders to ensure that demonstrations did not divide the country or society and called for greater public participation and dialogue to resolve grievances.

“Social participation and mutual dialogue must increase. We also have a responsibility to run society and the country,” Bhagwat said.

WARNING AGAINST DIVISION

Bhagwat said movements alone could not easily resolve problems. He warned that protests with a different underlying purpose could become political, deepen hostility and be exploited by forces opposed to the country.

His remarks came amid a political exchange in India over unrest abroad and Opposition protests against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

ALBANIA REMARKS TRIGGER POLITICAL ROW

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut drew criticism from the BJP after referring to violence in Albania and saying other countries, “especially India”, should learn from the developments.

According to Al Jazeera, protesters set fire to offices at Albania’s Supreme Court in Tirana as demonstrations demanding jobs, better education, action against alleged corruption and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation continued.

Raut alleged in his post that public anger stemmed from the court’s support for corrupt political leaders. That was his characterisation of the unrest.

BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari accused Congress and its allies of encouraging anarchy and threatening democratic institutions.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju separately alleged that anti-India groups and some politicians had sought to incite young people and foment violence. He did not substantiate those allegations in the remarks provided.

“Regime change in India is absolutely possible, but only through elections, not through Soros,” Rijiju said.

OPPOSITION DEFENDS PEACEFUL PROTEST

The Opposition rejected the allegations, saying its demonstrations over the SIR exercise concerned electoral fairness and the removal of names from voter rolls.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor dismissed comparisons with countries experiencing violent unrest.

“India is not Bangladesh and India is not France... We only believe in peaceful protest,” he said, describing the demand for free and fair elections as a constitutional issue.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also accused the ruling party of using international developments to discredit peaceful demonstrations.

In Albania, Rama has ruled out resigning and alleged foreign involvement in the unrest, while saying his government was willing to address legitimate student grievances, according to Al Jazeera.

With inputs from ANI