BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over report on links between protests in India and France

The BJP cited a media report alleging links between protests in India and unrest in France to accuse the Congress of a purported regime-change plot. BJP leaders targeted Rahul Gandhi, while the Congress had not immediately responded to the allegations

New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday cited a media report on alleged links between riots in France and recent protests in India, claiming that it exposed the Congress’s alleged “anarchy and regime change plot”, and called Rahul Gandhi a “gaddar” (traitor).

There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the BJP’s allegations.

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According to a report published in The Times of India, a Fox News digital investigation has claimed to have uncovered links between the riots in France and 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 if I present the 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 attempts to overthrow elected governments. It is a ‘red-green ecosystem of protest’,” he claimed.

“According to the Fox News report, red represents communist groups, while green represents Islamic 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.

Citing the report, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on X, “Global investigation exposes anarchy and regime change plot of Congress.”

The investigation report, titled ‘Global Chaos Inc grows to 101 groups’, flags how the communist organisation Progressive International (PI) was coordinating common messaging among protests in France, Albania and India, Bhandari said.

“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 representatives of Progressive International at “10 Janpath” on April 10, 2025.

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

Bhandari said the Congress must clarify whether 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 asked, adding, “Congress must answer.”