Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan called for a regime change on Thursday during a press meet in New Delhi. He said, "Yes, we all want regime change." Bhushan argued that citizens have a democratic right to seek change and criticized the government for suppressing protests against election irregularities.
"Regime change is the democratic right of every citizen. Creating disaffection for the government is not a crime as per our Constitution.
New Delhi: Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Thursday called for a regime change amid ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the ongoing SIR, stressing that it is the democratic right of every citizen.
"The government alleges the opposition wants a regime change... We are currently fighting to ensure that elections are conducted properly. But if this kind of brutality continues, there will certainly be regime change.
"Yes, we all want regime change," he said.
"What is wrong with that? BJP led several movements for regime change? Now they are saying there is a conspiracy for regime change..." Bhushan said.
"Regime change is the democratic right of every citizen. Creating disaffection for the government is not a crime as per our Constitution.
"That is why this is now really a fight for regime change against a dictatorial government. A government that is crushing democracy," he said.
He said the more the authorities tried to suppress protests, the more people would take to the streets.
The movement for regime change, he added, would be led by young people, with civil society groups and political parties joining the campaign.
Bhushan also questioned the decision to deny permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar, saying the authorities could have suggested another venue if they believed the gathering would be small. He questioned whether people could be prevented from waving the Tricolour merely because the venue was no longer a designated protest site.
Alleging selective treatment of protesters, he referred to a video showing an assault by people he described as BJP supporters and claimed it had been released within a day. "There is a goonda raj going on," he said.