A political slugfest has broken out over All India Students' Association president Neha Bora’s praise for Bangladesh’s Gen Z movement, which eventually led to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, with the BJP attacking her for wanting a regime change through anarchy. Bora has recently become one of the prominent faces of protests in the national capital against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
In a video message on October 14, Bora extended her support to Bangladesh’s Socialist Students Front on the occasion of its sixth national conference. She stated that young activists in India were learning from student-led movements in Bangladesh, noting that the movement began for democratic and voter rights. She expressed hope that young people in Bangladesh and India could fight together for a better South Asia and a better world.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Bora of making an open admission of regime change. In a press conference, Bhandari claimed that the objective of the protests is to conspire to destroy democracy in India, asserting that while the words belong to Bora, the ideology is shared by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo also alleged that Bora and Gandhi want a change of government through complete anarchy. Karnataka BJP MLC CT Ravi similarly questioned whether the movement against the Chief Election Commissioner is taking inspiration from the Bangladesh uprising, warning that student-led demonstrations must not become a cover for political destabilization.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi rejected the BJP’s allegations and stated that his party does not support anyone taking the law into their hands, adding that any change of government in India would occur through democratic means. Alvi argued that the BJP is invoking democracy while the nation fights to protect it, questioning the handling of the electoral rolls and stating that the ruling party cannot suppress the voice of the youth.