New Delhi, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday described the protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a “fight for regime change”, arguing that seeking a change of government through democratic means was a legitimate right of citizens.
Bhushan made the remarks at a press conference alongside Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief Abhijeet Dipke, following the BJP’s allegations that the Congress and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were attempting to facilitate “regime change” and undermine Indian democracy.
“There will definitely be a regime change. We all want a regime change. Is there anything wrong with that?” Bhushan said, adding that the BJP had also repeatedly protested for a change of government during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) administration.
He argued that expressing opposition to a government was not, by itself, a criminal act, provided it did not involve incitement to violence or public disorder. Referring to the Supreme Court’s observations on the colonial-era sedition law, Bhushan said that creating disaffection against a government alone should not be treated as a crime.
“That is why this is now really a fight for regime change,” he said.
The BJP’s accusation followed remarks by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora praising Bangladesh’s Gen-Z movement as an inspiration for young people in India. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari subsequently accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress ecosystem of seeking regime change rather than engaging in political resistance.
Dipke, meanwhile, criticised the Central government over the police action against protests demanding accountability from CEC Gyanesh Kumar. He alleged that student activists, opposition leaders and demonstrators had been detained to protect the Chief Election Commissioner.
The CJP has called for a ‘Tiranga Assembly’ at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 p.m. on Friday, urging people to gather with the national flag to protest the arrests of its co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia criticised the proposed gathering, accusing the CJP and its supporters of attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy. He said the call for regime change exposed what he described as the group’s intentions and questioned its commitment to the national flag.
The exchange comes amid a broader political dispute over protests against the Election Commission and competing allegations about the limits of political dissent and democratic resistance.
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