Mohan Bhagwat Warns of Attempts to Trigger Regime Change in India

Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday expressed concern over what he described as attempts to bring about a change of government in India through street protests, similar to developments witnessed in Bangladesh, Nepal and France.

Addressing the RSS’s annual Vijayadashami gathering in Nagpur, Bhagwat said that while unrest had affected several countries, India would not witness a similar breakdown of its political system.

“Across the world, particularly in Western countries, unrest is growing. We have seen developments in France, Bangladesh and Nepal, where street protests have led to changes in the political landscape. Similar attempts are being made in India, but such efforts will not succeed here,” he said, emphasising the country’s collective strength and determination.

Protests should focus on solutions

Bhagwat said protests and public movements were a natural part of democracy, particularly when people sought to raise concerns or demand action. However, he stressed that such movements should aim to resolve problems rather than fuel hatred and social divisions.

He also urged protest organisers to ensure that their actions remained within the bounds of civility and democratic conduct.

Bhagwat cautions against political opportunism

The RSS chief cautioned against using public movements to pursue vote-bank politics or gain cheap popularity. He said street protests alone could not resolve the country’s challenges and called for constructive dialogue and discussions among different sections of society.

His remarks come amid political tensions over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties and various organisations have protested against the exercise, raising concerns over the voter-list revision process.

Bangladesh, Nepal developments in focus

Bangladesh witnessed the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that escalated into widespread protests and violence. Nepal has also experienced major youth-led protests and political upheaval, while France has seen repeated demonstrations over domestic political and economic issues.

Bhagwat’s comments reflect concerns within the RSS leadership about the possibility of similar unrest in India. However, he maintained that democratic movements should remain peaceful, responsible and focused on finding solutions.