From Anti-CEC Protests To Regime Change: Is There An External Influence?

What began as protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR issue has escalated into calls for "Modi Hatao" and regime change. From the Bangladesh comparison drawn by student leader Neha Bora to Prashant Bhushan's defence of regime change as a citizen's right, and Sachin Pilot's prediction about the government's future, the rhetoric has intensified. With international media coverage and allegations of external influence adding to the controversy, the big question is: are these protests a democratic push for accountability or part of a larger political campaign? We examine the claims, the rhetoric and the growing battle over the direction of the agitation.