BJP Cites Media Report to Allege Congress Links to ‘Regime Change Plot’; Congress Hits Back

PTI, Oct 22, 2026, New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday cited a media report on alleged links between riots in France and the recent protests in India, claiming it exposes the "anarchy and regime change plot" of the Congress, and called Rahul Gandhi a "gaddar" (traitor).

Hitting back, the Congress claimed the BJP, out of "desperation and nervousness", was trying to "divert, distract and spread lies" in the wake of "widespread anger" over alleged 'vote chori'.

According to a report published in The Times of India, a Fox News investigation has claimed to have uncovered links between the riots in France and the protests in India demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said: "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is presenting a model of anarchy and 'gaddari' before the country. Today, a report has appeared in a newspaper, detailing how these alleged links of betrayal are connected to foreign agencies. Therefore, it would not be wrong to ask, 'Who is the leader of these traitors?'" Bhatia said. "Rahul 'gaddar'," he charged.

"It is India's misfortune that the leader of the opposition is irresponsible and immature. And when I present this evidence before you, it would not be wrong to call him a traitor or Mir Jafar. An investigation by Fox News shows how organisations have created an ecosystem across nine countries, including France, that is attempting to overthrow elected governments. It is a 'red-green ecosystem of protest'," he claimed.

Citing the media report, Bhatia said in this 'red-green ecosystem', the red represents "communist groups", while green represents "Islamic fundamentalist groups".

"If we look at this report, it states, 'Global chaos grows to 101 groups'. Global chaos, anarchy and disorder... These 101 organisations are operating across nine countries," Bhatia said.

"Nobody will be spared. Such anti-India forces will be destroyed. India has a strong prime minister and home minister," he asserted.

Citing the report, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari attacked the Congress and demanded a response from it. "Global investigation exposes anarchy and regime change plot of Congress," he alleged in a post on X.

Bhandari said an investigative report titled 'Global Chaos Inc grows to 101 groups' flags how communist organisation Progressive International (PI) was coordinating common messaging between protests in France, Albania and India. "The aim of the messaging was acquiring organised power through new rebellion, regime change," he added, referring to the media report.

Bhandari alleged that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had met Progressive International at "10 Janpath" in April last year.

"This further proves Rahul Gandhi and Congress are in the remote control of foreign anti-democratic forces," he charged, demanding a response from the Congress.

Bhandari said the Congress must reveal if it coordinated with Progressive International during the protests. "What was the messaging between Congress and this organisation when protests were ongoing? Was Rahul Gandhi moving to Vietnam related to taking instructions from many such organisations for the November 1 anarchic protest?" he questioned, adding, "Congress must answer."

Bhatia said the media report had also flagged Indian Alliance Paris, a France-based organisation, as "connecting French and Indian protest messaging", and alleged its links with the Congress.

"When Rahul Gandhi was detained during the protest (in Delhi), Indian Alliance Paris was the first to share the video, coming out in his support with baseless criticism of Indian democracy," the BJP spokesperson said.

Bhatia also showed pictures of last year's meeting of a delegation of Progressive International with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath, alleging that the Leader of the Opposition began acting on his "resolve to destroy" all constitutional institutions through anarchy over "baseless" allegations of "vote chori" after this meeting.

"Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi can be seen indulging in 'gaddari'," the BJP spokesperson charged, showing a picture of the said meeting.

Bhatia said protesting is a right, but engaging in dismantling constitutional institutions, or resorting to violent protest, is not.

"The only consequence for breaking the law is to languish in jail. Rahul Gandhi deserves this," he added.