'Dreaming of creating a situation similar to Bangladesh': Rajnath Singh targets Congress

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday accused the Congress and its allies of seeking a change of government in India along the lines of Bangladesh and using the energy of young people to spread “anarchy” through protests in the national capital.

Addressing a press conference, Singh said democracy did not give anyone the licence to create disorder or undermine constitutional institutions. His remarks came amid protests by opposition parties and civil society groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Singh accuses Congress of seeking Bangladesh-like regime change

Singh alleged that the Congress and its allies were encouraging political confrontation instead of channeling young people’s energy towards nation-building.

"It appears that the Congress and its political allies, directly and through their supporting organisations, are trying to use the energy of the youth to fuel political confrontation and spread anarchy instead of channelling it towards constructive work and nation-building," the defence minister said.

"The youth of the country are being made pawns in the politics of anarchy," he stated.

Singh claimed that opposition leaders had openly spoken about drawing inspiration from Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising, which led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

He also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to suspend the non-cooperation movement after the Chauri Chaura violence, accusing the Congress of seeking to avenge its electoral defeats through what he described as “violence and anarchy”.

"The Congress wants to push the country into the fire of violence and anarchy and is dreaming of creating a situation similar to Bangladesh. In view of this, I can say that the Congress has completely lost the moral right to use Gandhi's name," he said.

Asked whether the BJP would approach the Supreme Court over the Gandhi family’s use of the surname, Singh said, "Now, we have made an appeal to them, they will have to decide."

SIR protests and electoral reform allegations

Singh argued that references to “regime change” showed that the opposition’s campaign was not limited to electoral reforms or concerns over the SIR exercise.

Opposition leaders have alleged that the revision process lacks transparency and could lead to eligible voters being excluded.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s observations on petitions related to the SIR issue on Thursday, Singh said democratic institutions could not be undermined for political gains.

"Respecting the law is also essential to maintaining law and order. India's democratic institutions cannot be sacrificed at the altar of political self-interest," he said.

He urged Rahul Gandhi to respect the people’s mandate and choose dialogue over confrontation.

Singh questions Congress over electoral record

The defence minister also challenged the Congress’s allegations of vote theft, arguing that its electoral setbacks reflected its own failures rather than irregularities.

"After 1984, the Congress did not get a majority at the Centre. At that time, the BJP was a party with just two seats. Was it vote theft or failure to deliver? Rahul Gandhi should answer this," he said.

Singh also referred to Gandhi’s description of the alleged electoral irregularities as a “hydrogen bomb”, claiming that the charge had failed to make an impact. He alleged that the Congress had not filed a formal appeal against the electoral rolls and lacked evidence to support its accusations.

Uttar Pradesh politics and BJP government’s achievements

Singh questioned the Congress’s political position in Uttar Pradesh, where it has been out of power since 1989. He asked whether the party could win the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat without the support of the Samajwadi Party.

He also referred to recent clashes among Congress leaders in the state, alleging that members of the party’s Uttar Pradesh unit lacked trust in one another.

"The Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for 37 years. Whether this is due to an alleged theft of the public's votes or because of the Congress' own style of functioning and failures, the people of the state and the country understand this very well," he said.

During the press conference, Singh also highlighted what he described as India’s economic and defence achievements under the Modi government. He said the country’s global standing had improved, its economy was among the fastest-growing major economies, and defence production had increased, helping India emerge as an exporter of defence equipment.