Mohan Bhagwat stepped onto the stage at the RSS‑organized Vijayadashami rally in Nagpur on Tuesday, saying that forces intent on destabilising India are seeking support from ambitious political leaders. His speech coincided with a nationwide wave of demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The protests, which have already seen clashes in Delhi and Mumbai, are reportedly fueled by a Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, who labelled them a “fight for regime change.” In response, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused opposition activists of plotting street violence, drawing parallels with unrest in Bangladesh and France.
BJP leaders have seized on Bhagwat’s comments to paint the opposition’s demands as a threat to national stability, while opposition figures insist the protests centre on electoral integrity, not a desire to topple the government. The tone has sharpened after the fall of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in September 2025 and the 2024 student uprising that ousted Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina.
In the crowd outside the rally, 23‑year‑old student Maya Singh, who has been on the sidelines for six months, told reporters that the protest feels like a “necessary voice for change.” She added that she hopes the government’s response will be measured, not punitive.
The government has announced a review of its protest‑management strategy and will convene a special committee before the next parliamentary session to address security concerns. The committee is set to report back by the end of next month.