The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Jharkhand Health Minister and Congress leader Irfan Ansari over his remarks warning that India could face a situation worse than Bangladesh and Nepal if the central government failed to listen to public concerns. The BJP described his comments as an attempt to encourage disorder and accused the Congress of using threatening rhetoric against the government.
The controversy intensified after Ansari claimed that millions of young people were ready to take to the streets at the call of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His statements drew criticism from BJP leaders, who questioned whether the remarks amounted to an appeal for unrest rather than democratic protest.
Irfan Ansari Warns Centre to Learn From Neighbouring Countries
Speaking to reporters, Ansari referred to political developments in Bangladesh and Nepal, arguing that governments in those countries had faced serious consequences after allegedly ignoring the demands of their citizens.
The Jharkhand minister claimed that around 40 lakh students and young people were prepared to protest across India. According to Ansari, Rahul Gandhi had so far restrained them from taking matters into their own hands.
He warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government should pay attention to public grievances before the situation escalated. Ansari also maintained that the Congress wanted to pursue its demands through constitutional means and had urged people not to take the law into their own hands.
His comments came amid opposition criticism of the central government and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised concerns about the possibility of eligible voters being excluded from electoral lists.
BJP Calls Remarks an ‘Open Call for Anarchy’
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari strongly criticised Ansari, alleging that his remarks exposed what he described as the Congress party’s anarchic political approach.
Bhandari argued that linking political protests in India with upheavals in neighbouring countries was deeply concerning. He accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of attempting to create instability under the banner of democratic resistance.
The BJP spokesperson also said that peaceful democratic opposition should not involve language that could be interpreted as threatening public order. He maintained that the government was committed to protecting the country’s democratic institutions.
Other BJP leaders echoed these concerns, accusing the Congress of encouraging confrontational politics instead of building public support through democratic processes.
Shiv Sena Leader Also Criticises Congress Minister
Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey also objected to Ansari’s remarks, expressing confidence in the country’s law-and-order system.
Dubey said attempts to create disorder would not be allowed and criticised political statements invoking unrest in countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He argued that political disagreements should not undermine public stability.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal also criticised the remarks, saying political parties should seek public trust rather than resort to language associated with threats and violence.
The reactions reflected the growing political confrontation over the tone of opposition protests and the use of neighbouring countries’ political upheavals as warnings to the Indian government.
SIR Dispute Adds to Political Tensions
The controversy surrounding Ansari’s comments comes against the backdrop of a wider disagreement over the revision of electoral rolls.
Congress leaders have questioned the implementation of the SIR exercise, alleging that eligible voters could face difficulties during the process. Ansari has also criticised the Election Commission and demanded accountability over concerns surrounding voter registration.
The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the exercise, arguing that electoral-roll revisions are necessary to maintain accurate voter lists.
The dispute has become another flashpoint between the ruling party and the opposition, with both sides exchanging accusations over democratic accountability and the conduct of political protests.
Political Row Likely to Continue
Ansari’s remarks have given the BJP fresh grounds to attack the Congress over its political messaging, while the broader disagreement over electoral-roll revisions remains unresolved.
The central issue is likely to remain contested as opposition parties continue raising concerns about the electoral process and the BJP argues that such criticism should not be accompanied by statements that could be interpreted as threats of unrest.
