Times Now Navbharat sting exposes alleged regime change plot by radical groups
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A sting operation by Times Now Navbharat has surfaced what the channel describes as 'startling disclosures' about alleged plans by radical elements and student outfits to replicate Bangladesh and Nepal-style violent street movements in India, amid an intensifying showdown between the Centre and the Opposition over a purported 'regime change' plot.
What the Sting Revealed
Maulana Siraj Khan, the Mumbai chief of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, was captured on camera reportedly backing violent means to bring about regime change. He was quoted as saying: 'The day the Momin (believer) stands up, no one will be able to contain him.' The channel described him as a known radical face with a history of inflammatory statements, including past remarks on Bhojshala, opposition to Waqf board reforms, and criticism of the RSS chief's comments on regime change.
Safwan, the president of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) at Delhi University, told the channel's undercover reporter that 'something will certainly happen; nothing can remain secure forever,' when asked about the possibility of a Bangladesh or Nepal-style upheaval in India. He also said that if an event like the July 20 Sansad Chalo March were to recur, the situation could 'end up as it did in Nepal.'
Alleged Tactic: Women at the Front
Safwan also shed light on an alleged strategy to position women at the forefront of agitations. He reportedly said that placing women at the front was 'very much under consideration' as 'they stand like a fortress wall,' limiting the police's ability to take action. 'If a man confronts the police, they can easily subdue him. But if a woman confronts male police officers, it creates a negative image for the Delhi Police. And that is exactly what is happening,' he told the channel's reporters.
Funding and Logistics of the July 20 Rally
Bhim, the convener of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (Revolutionary Youth Organization), provided an account of how resources and funds were mobilised for the July 20 rally, which he said snowballed into a national issue and resulted in a Union Minister's resignation. According to Bhim, the daily expenditure of the demonstration stood at approximately Rs 5 lakh. Without naming CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke directly, he reportedly indicated that most of the protesters were either Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters or had connections with the party.
Mudita, spokesperson of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, similarly backed the view that Bangladesh and Nepal-style operations were 'very much possible' in India.
Centre-Opposition Standoff
The sting comes against the backdrop of a charged political environment in which the Centre has accused Opposition-linked groups of orchestrating 'regime change' through anarchic means. The Opposition, for its part, has defended street protests as a 'rightful' democratic tool. The disclosures add a sharper edge to that debate. Notably, this is not the first time allegations of coordinated destabilisation have surfaced alongside major agitations. Whether the revelations prompt formal legal or investigative action remains to be seen, and the broader political implications are likely to unfold in the days ahead.