NEW DELHI — Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor dismissed allegations of an orchestrated regime change plot in the country, asserting that India cannot be compared to nations that have recently experienced widespread unrest, according to reporting by Hindustan Times and NDTV.
Tharoor's response followed remarks by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched in India similar to the forces behind unrest seen in other countries. Rijiju drew parallels between domestic political developments and the turmoil witnessed during violent protests in France and Bangladesh.
Exchange Over Alleged Conspiracy
Rejecting the union minister's assertions, Tharoor emphasized that India's democratic foundations stand apart from the political crises that have unfolded abroad. The Thiruvananthapuram parliamentarian stated that India is neither Bangladesh nor France, pushing back against the suggestion that the country is susceptible to an externally influenced or unconstitutional change of government.
According to NDTV, Tharoor agreed to disagree with Rijiju over the regime change row, underscoring that fears of comparable street-led overthrows or destabilization campaigns are unfounded when applied to the Indian context.
Clashing Views on Democratic Stability
The dispute centers on Rijiju's claims regarding an alleged conspiracy to trigger unrest reminiscent of overseas crises. Bangladesh recently underwent severe political upheaval that toppled its sitting administration, while France has confronted sustained waves of public demonstrations and street violence.
Reporting by Hindustan Times noted that Rijiju framed the alleged developments as a deliberate effort aimed at orchestrating regime change. However, Tharoor rejected the comparison outright, maintaining that India's political stability and institutional strength fundamentally differentiate it from the situations cited by the union minister.
