Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court (SC), Prashant Bhushan has called the ongoing protests against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar a ‘fight for regime change,’ following which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Opposition of trying to topple the Narendra Modi-led government without an electoral mandate.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday alongside the members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student organisation representatives and activists, Bhushan said the stir over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls had evolved beyond demands for electoral reforms.

Bhushan asserted, “We are currently fighting to ensure that elections are conducted properly. But if this kind of brutality continues, there will certainly be regime change.”

Bhushan accuses Govt of trampling democracy

The senior lawyer maintained that the Indian Constitution had not criminalised creating public dissent against a government, and then accused the ruling establishment of suppressing disaffection. He also warned that attempts to curb protests could bring more people onto the streets.

He went on to say that youngsters would helm the movement, with civil society organisations and political parties expected to join the campaign. However, the BJP leaders were quick to respond to Bhushan’s remarks, who alleged that the agitation was driven by a wide political objective rather than concerns over electoral rolls.

Defence Minister Singh warns against political unrest

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused unnamed groups of trying to exploit young people in a bid to create political instability, drawing parallels with the developments in Bangladesh. He alleged that the calls for regime change were intended to weaken democratic institutions and create disorder, rather than addressing electoral reforms or the SIR process.

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan also echoed similar sentiments, claiming it exposed what he termed ‘the opposition’s hidden agenda.’

Kesavan alleged that the SIR row was merely a ‘smokescreen’ for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his political aides to undermine the government and fall into power through undemocratic means.

Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis also chipped in, writing on his official social media handle, “It’s done bro, everything is exposed !! Afterall, it was all about ‘Regime Change’..”

Meanwhile, BJP leader CT Ravi questioned the motives behind the stir seeking CEC Kumar’s resignation, arguing that allegations of electoral irregularities and ‘vote theft’ required evidence-based scrutiny rather than political mobilisation on the streets.

“Govt change must unfold through elections”: BJP

BJP national spokesperson Guruprakash Paswan said governments in a democracy must be changed by means of elections rather than street protests and political unrest. Party MP Sambit Patra also accused the Opposition of trying to secure power outside the established electoral process.

Patra remarked, “The Constitution provides a clear process for changing a government,” arguing that elections remained the legitimate means through which citizens could decide who governs the country.

He added that India belonged to its 1.4 billion people and could not be treated as the private property of any individual or family.