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New Delhi: Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Abhay Singh Chautala created a stir by saying that India should also witness movements like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, which toppled the regime in these countries. A video went viral, showing the INLD chief calling upon the youth of India to "overthrow the present government off power" in India.
The INLD chief was quoted as saying, "In Sri Lanka, the way the youth of Bangladesh forced the government to leave the country, the way the youth of Nepal forced the government to leave the country, the same tactics will have to be implemented in India too to throw the present government out of power."
He made the remarks in Mahendragarh. He was speaking at the Yuva Yoddha Sammelan organised in the district. He reportedly said that the rulers of the country need to be pulled off their "thrones" and beaten up on the streets. He said that the people need to forcethe rulers out of the country, much like what happened in the neighbouring countries of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
As his remarks went viral, the BJP attacked him and his party with full force. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, termed his statement as a threat to India's constitutional order and also the country's democratic norms.
Poonawala accused the opposition of adopting an "anti-Constitutional and anti-India mindset in criticising the Prime Minister." He said that such a mindset showed their willingness to go against Ambedkar's Constitution and undermine faith in India's democracy. They said that the Opposition was ready to go against democracy to score a political point. He also accused them of putting their own interests above national interests.
Another BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari took to his social media handle to attack the opposition in general and Chautala in particular following the remarks in Haryana. He said that senior Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi have propelled a narrative which challenges the legitimacy of India's political system.
Haryana Minister Krishan Bedi questioned the ideological stand of the party whose member made the remark and also asked what was the credibility of the comments made.
Chautala's remarks drew attention to the recent political protests which erupted in India's neighbourhood. Three of the countries, which share borders with India, saw a regime change, following massive protests by people.
In Sri Lanka a mass movement erupted in 2022. The country was caught in an economic crisis. The protests majorly erupted due to ration shortage, runaway inflation and also fuel rationing. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to resign following mass protests by the people. Soon after a democratic leadership took over power in the country.
In Bangladesh in 2024, protests against the government's quota sytstem started. This was led by the students of the country. It soon turned into a nationwide mass uprising and forced the PM, Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. The country then went under a caretaker government led by Muhammad Yunus and is set to see elections in February this year.
In Nepal, students rose in protests in 2025 after the government imposed bans on social media in the country. What began as a protest against the ban on Facebook, X and YouTube, soon turned into a movement against the government. There were clashes between students, often referred to as Gen Z protestors and the security forces of the government. Finally PM KP Sharma Oli resigned from his position. The country transferred power to an interim government.
