VHP Demands Removal of Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari Over ‘Regime Change’ Remark
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal accuses the minister of making provocative statements and urges Jharkhand Chief Minister to take immediate action.
NEW DELHI, Nov 5: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday called for the immediate removal of Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari from the state cabinet over his alleged controversial remarks comparing India’s situation with developments in Bangladesh and Nepal.
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal accused Ansari of making provocative statements and questioned his suitability to hold a ministerial position. He also demanded an unconditional apology from the minister.
Reacting to the opposition’s joint rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, Bansal claimed that despite extensive efforts to mobilise supporters from different parts of the country, the gathering did not match the claims made by opposition leaders.
In a video statement, he alleged that the opposition had invested considerable resources in organising the event, but the actual turnout exposed the gap between its expectations and the ground reality.
Taking particular aim at Ansari, Bansal said the minister should apologise for his remarks and questioned how he could suggest that the presence of a large number of supporters behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could lead to an attack and a change of government.
The VHP spokesperson described the comments as an attempt to create unrest and asserted that such statements should not be taken lightly. He maintained that India was a strong democracy and would not tolerate attempts to undermine its constitutional institutions.
Bansal further challenged the Congress leadership to clarify its position on Ansari’s remarks, asking whether the party supported statements that could allegedly mislead young people and encourage instability.
He also urged the Jharkhand Chief Minister to take immediate action against the minister, arguing that individuals making such statements should not continue to occupy positions of responsibility in the government.
The controversy follows Ansari’s reported remarks that around 40 lakh students and young people had taken to the streets in Delhi and were being restrained by Rahul Gandhi.
The minister had reportedly warned that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to take note of the situation, India could face circumstances more severe than those witnessed in Bangladesh and Nepal.
His comments have triggered a political confrontation, with the VHP demanding disciplinary action and seeking an explanation from the Congress leadership.
