NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday responded sharply to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s allegation that the Congress and its allies were seeking regime change along the lines of Bangladesh, asserting that the people themselves wanted a change in government.
In a post on X, Sibal rejected Singh’s charge and said the ruling dispensation had failed to live up to the promises that helped it come to power.
Referring to the anti-corruption movement that preceded the government’s rise to power, Sibal alleged that the administration had since embraced corruption, captured institutions and manipulated electoral rolls.
He concluded his remarks with the assertion that it was time for the government to leave office.
The exchange followed Singh’s criticism of opposition parties over protests in the national capital against alleged electoral irregularities. The defence minister accused the Congress and its allies of exploiting young people’s energy to intensify political confrontation and create disorder.
Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow on Friday, Singh maintained that democratic freedoms should not be used to disrupt public order or undermine the credibility of constitutional institutions.
He alleged that opposition parties, along with organisations supporting them, were attempting to mobilise young people for confrontational politics instead of encouraging their participation in constructive activities and nation-building.
Singh further claimed that the Congress and its allies wanted a change of government modelled on developments in Bangladesh. He described young protesters as being used as pawns in what he characterised as the opposition’s politics of anarchy.
Sibal’s response sought to turn the accusation back on the government, arguing that public dissatisfaction, rather than an opposition-led attempt to replicate events in a neighbouring country, was driving demands for political change.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions over allegations of electoral malpractice and the credibility of electoral processes. Opposition parties have raised concerns about voter lists and other aspects of election administration, while the government has criticised the protests and questioned the opposition’s intentions.
The competing statements reflect a widening political dispute over the nature of public demonstrations, the role of young people in political movements and the functioning of democratic institutions.
While Singh called for protests to remain within constitutional boundaries, Sibal challenged the government’s record and argued that voters should have the final say on its continuation in office.
Neither side’s broader allegations were established by the statements themselves, and the political confrontation is likely to remain a point of contention between the ruling party and opposition groups.