Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, 16 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of plotting to seize power by fomenting anarchy in the country. Goyal said the use of the phrase 'regime change' by the opposition had exposed the true intent behind their agitation — one that had nothing to do with electoral reform, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), or Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Goyal's Charge on X

In a post on X, Goyal wrote: 'The use of terms like ‘Regime Change’ makes it clear that their fight is not for electoral reform, not for SIR, not for Gyanesh Kumar, not for the bright future of the country’s youth. Rather, this is their conspiracy to seize power by creating Anarchy in the country.' The minister's remarks were a direct response to senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who at a press conference on Thursday openly said, 'Yes, we want regime change.'

Rajnath Singh Invokes Bangladesh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing a separate press conference in Lucknow, escalated the attack by drawing a parallel with Bangladesh, alleging that the opposition was seeking to replicate a similar destabilisation playbook. 'They want to change the regime like in Bangladesh and openly mention in their press conference that they are motivated by Bangladesh and talk about bringing down the government. It clearly shows that their sole agenda is to destroy democratic institutions,' Singh said. Goyal also shared Singh's remarks on his social media handles, amplifying the Bangladesh comparison. Singh further alleged that when 'political selfishness is placed above truth or the nation’s interests, democratic discourse becomes a victim of obstinacy and malicious propaganda.'

Fadnavis Joins the Offensive

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also weighed in, posting on X that Bhushan's statement had 'exposed' the alleged motive behind the protests. 'It’s done bro, everything is exposed!! After all, it was all about ‘Regime Change’... In the end, the secret hidden in the heart came to the lips! The whole game is about grabbing the seat of power... and for that, why not provoke students and farmers, spread hatred in the name of caste and language, or tarnish the image of the country’s esteemed institutions? Spreading anarchy under the guise of a movement is precisely ‘their’ objective,' Fadnavis posted. He also shared a video clip of Bhushan's press conference alongside his remarks.

The Row That Triggered the Backlash

The political storm erupted after Bhushan's remarks at a press conference on Thursday, where he acknowledged demands for a change in government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized on the statement to argue that the broader opposition agitation — ostensibly centred on concerns about the Election Commission and the SIR process — was in reality driven by a desire to topple the ruling dispensation through extra-electoral means. This comes amid an already charged political climate over electoral rolls and the role of the Election Commission, making the 'regime change' remark a flashpoint that both sides are now using to frame the national debate ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.