Opposition leaders on Friday, 16 October 2026, sharply criticised Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after he accused Congress and its allies of seeking regime change along the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of the youth to spread 'anarchy' during protests in New Delhi. Multiple opposition MPs rejected the charge, asserting their constitutional right to raise public issues and pursue a change of government through democratic means.

The Charge That Sparked the Backlash

Rajnath Singh had lashed out at Congress and allied parties over the protests in the national capital, drawing a comparison to the political upheaval in Bangladesh and alleging that the opposition was channelling youth energy toward 'anarchy'. The remarks drew an immediate and multi-party response, with leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lining up to rebut the Defence Minister.

Samajwadi Party's Response

Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Choudhary accused the ruling establishment of deflecting from substantive governance questions. 'They should think about how the country's system should function. Instead, they are turning things around. It is the Opposition's duty to raise issues, and we will raise those that are valid. But the ruling party is immersed in arrogance. If they want to address the issue, they should get Gyanesh Kumar to resign,' she said. Fellow SP MP Awadhesh Prasad called the Bangladesh allegation 'baseless', adding that the youth are the future leaders of the country.

Congress MPs Question Economic Record

Congress MP Manoj Kumar turned the Bangladesh comparison on its head, arguing that India's economic situation was worse than Bangladesh's. 'India's economic situation is worse than Bangladesh's, yet you aspire to make India a Vishwa Guru by 2047 and claim to have a vision to lead the world,' he said. Kumar also questioned why Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was being targeted for remarks that, he argued, may have reflected an individual's personal opinion. Congress MP Imran Masood went further, asserting that democratic alternation in power was inevitable and warning against attempts to control constitutional institutions. 'The regime will change; it has to change. You cannot take control of constitutional institutions, destroy them and expect to rule permanently,' he said. Masood also raised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, questioning why the Election Commission was conducting a Special Summary Revision (SSR) if the earlier exercise had been properly carried out. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari distanced the party from any suggestion of pursuing extra-constitutional change, saying Congress sought a government transition 'through democratic means, in accordance with the Constitution'. Tiwari described the opposition's campaign as the country's 'second struggle for freedom'.

AAP Urges Dialogue Over Repression

AAP MLA Gopal Rai accused the government of resorting to repression while talking about dialogue, and urged it to permit a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar. 'The government talks about dialogue but resorts to repression. We want the government to allow a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. It should engage in dialogue and find a solution through discussions,' he said. Rai further alleged that the government was shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite mounting demands for his removal.

Broader Context

This comes amid a charged political atmosphere in New Delhi, with the opposition stepping up street protests and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) framing those protests as destabilising. The Bangladesh reference — drawn from the mass protests that toppled the government there — is the latest rhetorical escalation in an ongoing battle over the legitimacy of opposition agitation. Notably, the dispute over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has added a constitutional dimension to what began as a political confrontation. How the government responds to calls for dialogue at Jantar Mantar will be closely watched in the days ahead.