S T Hasan defends peaceful protests and India’s communal harmony, while Congress leader Rashid Alvi accused the RSS of promoting hatred and questioned claims of foreign interference
NEW DELHI — Opposition leaders have criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on regime change, with Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan defending peaceful protests. Congress leader Rashid Alvi also demanded that the government identify the foreign forces allegedly involved in attempts to destabilise the country.
Bhagwat had referred to protests in France, Albania, Nepal and Bangladesh while speaking about what he described as a trend of opposing and destroying established systems, traditions and social values. His comments have drawn responses from opposition leaders, who offered different assessments of protests, communal relations and the claim that external forces could seek to destabilise the country.
Hasan, a former Samajwadi Party MP, said India’s unity remained intact despite its religious and cultural diversity. He rejected the suggestion that outside forces could break the country apart.
“No country dares to break our country apart or cause any harm to it. India is a land of diversity, but unity in this diversity is our defining characteristic,” Hasan said.
He said India’s traditions of mutual affection and communal coexistence had survived attempts to create divisions between religious communities.
“India cannot be broken. Our love, affection, Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and Hindu-Muslim history have endured even when some people tried to build walls of hatred and disturb communal harmony,” he said.
Hasan also criticised those he accused of trying to create hostility between Hindus and Muslims, arguing that their efforts had failed to damage the country.
“If those living in our country and acting against its interests have failed to harm it by trying to create hatred between the country’s two large populations, what chance do external forces have of doing so?” he said.
Peaceful Protests Defended
Responding to Bhagwat’s remarks about attempts to destabilise countries through protests, Hasan questioned whether peaceful demonstrations should be treated as efforts to undermine the state.
“I do not think anyone can destabilise the country through such attempts. People are protesting peacefully. Show me even one case where arson took place or someone lost their life,” he said.
Hasan said people were frustrated by corruption, dishonesty and those spreading hatred. He presented the protests as expressions of public discontent rather than evidence of an attempt to destabilise the country.
RSS Promoting Hatred: Rashid Alvi
Congress leader Rashid Alvi also criticised Bhagwat’s remarks, accusing the RSS of refusing to change its ideology despite having faced bans in the past.
Speaking to the news agency IANS, Alvi alleged that hatred was central to the organisation’s ideology and said its publications reflected that position.
“The Indian government has banned the RSS several times, but the organisation has never been willing to change its ideology. The hatred spread by the RSS is also reflected in its books. Hatred is a central part of its ideology,” Alvi said.
He challenged the government to identify the foreign powers Bhagwat was referring to and provide evidence of their alleged involvement in activities aimed at destabilising India.
“If foreign forces are involved, people in India should know who they are. Name those individuals, name those countries, identify the foreign forces involved in these activities and name their agents in India. If your party is in power, why are you not arresting them? You should arrest them,” he said.
Alvi’s remarks questioned the basis for allegations of foreign interference and demanded that the government take action if it had evidence of such activity.
Debate Linked to Electoral Politics
Responding directly to Bhagwat’s remarks on regime change, Alvi argued that the BJP itself had brought about a change of political regime when it replaced the Congress-led government.
“Even the BJP has changed the regime. Our government was in power, but they changed the regime. Now we want to change the regime. We want to do it democratically through elections,” he said.
Alvi further alleged that elections were not being conducted honestly and called on those responsible to resign. He said the Congress and other opposition parties were fighting to strengthen the democratic system.
His comments framed regime change as a legitimate democratic objective when pursued through elections, in contrast to Bhagwat’s criticism of the belief that changing a regime would necessarily improve a country’s circumstances.
Race Course Mosque Notice
Alvi also criticised the government over a notice directing the Race Course Mosque to vacate premises within six days. The notice reportedly described the mosque as an unauthorised occupation of government land.
He accused the government of targeting Muslim religious institutions and argued that disputes over temples and mosques had come to dominate its political agenda.
“The present government could probably describe every mosque in India as having been built on government land. Apart from temples and mosques, they have no other issue. There is no Muslim minister in the government. The anti-Muslim attitude of the BJP and RSS keeps coming to the fore,” Alvi said.
