Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan , who is part of the ongoing anti-CEC protests, on Friday said the agitation against alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls had become “really a fight for regime change”, drawing a sharp response from the BJP, which accused the protesters of seeking to oust the Narendra Modi government without an electoral mandate.
BJP MP Sambit Patra said Bhushan’s statement confirmed the party’s claim that the agitation was aimed at changing the government rather than addressing electoral reforms. “The government alleges the opposition wants a regime change… We are currently fighting to ensure that elections are conducted properly. But if this kind of brutality continues, there will certainly be regime change. “That is why this is now really a fight for regime change against a dictatorial government. “Our Constitution provides a clear process for changing a government. Elections are held in this country every five years, allowing people to exercise their right to vote. These are the legitimate channels through which a change in power can occur. But you do not believe in this process.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi alongside Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke , student organisation leaders and activists, Bhushan said calls for regime change were part of democratic rights and that creating “disaffection” against a government was not a crime under the Constitution. A government that is crushing democracy,” he said. BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said Bhushan’s remarks proved that the SIR process was a “smokescreen” for the opposition’s alleged agenda to bring down the government. BJP leader CT Ravi said Bhushan’s statement raised questions about the motives behind the agitation seeking the CEC’s resignation. He said allegations of SIR irregularities and “vote chori” could not substitute for an evidence-based debate, and argued that street protests could not override the government’s democratic mandate. You believe in chaos; you believe in anarchy,” he said.
