Senior advocate and former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve has alleged that attempts are being made to engineer political instability in India similar to upheavals recently witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh — and that external forces may be playing a role in fomenting that unrest. Salve made the remarks in an interview published on 12 October 2026, drawing sharp attention to the funding and leadership of certain protest movements in the country.

The Foreign Funding Allegation

Salve claimed that foreign money was reportedly flowing into specific protest activities in India, and questioned the financial sources behind organised demonstrations. He named individuals he said had emerged as protest leaders — including people he identified as Dipke, Saurav Das, and several YouTubers — and pointed to what he described as a pattern of overseas-based individuals suddenly assuming prominent roles in domestic agitations.

'In India, too, some people have emerged as leaders of protests, including Dipke, Saurav Das and some YouTubers. Some people live in Germany and other countries and suddenly become leaders here. Where are they getting the money for these activities? Organising protests requires funding,' Salve said.

Drawing Parallels With Neighbouring Countries

Salve drew explicit parallels with recent political crises in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, questioning the role of external actors in those upheavals. He specifically referenced the removal of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent political transition, arguing that foreign forces were instrumental in those developments.

'Is there any doubt about who was behind the turmoil in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Who removed Sheikh Hasina, and who brought in the new Prime Minister there? In my opinion, external forces were behind these events,' he said.

He alleged that a similar pattern was now becoming visible in India over the past six to eight months, with coordinated activities aimed at obstructing the functioning of the government.

Context: India's Current Policy Focus

Salve framed the alleged destabilisation attempts against the backdrop of the government's ongoing priorities — including managing the Strait of Hormuz crisis, advancing economic development, technological progress, and expanding India's satellite capabilities. He argued that the groups in question were specifically seeking to distract and derail official attention from these objectives.

'While the Modi government is focusing on dealing with the Strait of Hormuz crisis, economic development, technological progress and enhancing India's satellite capabilities, these groups are trying to prevent the government from moving forward,' he said.

Is This a People's Movement?

Salve was categorical in his assessment that the protest activities he described did not constitute a genuine public uprising. He said that authentic people's movements historically drew mass support because citizens could relate to the core issues being raised — and that he did not see that dynamic at play here.

'I do not consider this a people's movement,' he said, adding that he did not expect such activities to sustain themselves over time for the same reason.

He also raised concern over what he characterised as the spread of misleading narratives through digital platforms, including YouTube videos, reels, and short-form messages, which he argued were being used to amplify the perception of popular discontent.

What Salve Says the Government Should Do

Salve maintained that it was the government's responsibility to investigate allegations of foreign funding and take appropriate legal and administrative action. He stopped short of prescribing specific measures but was clear that he viewed such investigations as a legitimate and necessary exercise of state authority. His remarks are likely to intensify political debate over the boundaries between the right to protest and state oversight of civil society funding — a question that has been contested in India for several years. How the government responds to these calls, and whether any formal probe is announced, will be closely watched.