NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar recently found himself at the receiving end of criticism from Bharatiya Janata party for comparing India’s situation with the violence-ridden

Bangladesh

.
In an interview with new agency IANS, Aiyar stated that despite India’s economic growth, issues like

unemployment

and

inequality

have increased, leading to turmoil in Bangladesh.

Aiyar pointed out that flaws have emerged in Bangladesh’s democracy, as evident in their elections, where

opposition parties

refrained from participating due to concerns about fairness. He emphasized that India hasn’t reached that stage yet, as opposition parties are still participating in elections.
However, the former Union minister raised doubts about the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, citing an analysis by a citizens’ platform that highlighted discrepancies between initial voter turnout figures and the final figures in around 89 seats.

Aiyar said, “In such a situation, we can say that just as doubts have arisen in people’s minds about free and fair elections in Bangladesh, similar doubts are starting to emerge here. They have surfaced there, but they are beginning here as well.”
The Election Commission has dismissed the analysis, calling it a “false campaign” to discredit the polls.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla targeted Aiyar and accused him of inciting scenes similar to those of in Bangladesh.

“After Salman Khurshid then Sajjan Verma and now Mani Shankar Aiyyar draw parallel between Bharat and Bangladesh and incite / provoke similar scenes here In Modi virodh they can do Bharat ka Virodh; undermine Bharat’s institutions. This isn’t a Sanyog but a socha Samjha Prayog (well-planned experiment),” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said.
Aiyar’s comments came shortly after another senior Congress leader, Salman Khurshid, sparked controversy by suggesting that violent anti-government protests, similar to those in Bangladesh, could potentially occur in India despite the appearance of normalcy on the surface.
Khurshid said, “Everything may look normal in Kashmir. Everything may look normal here. We may be celebrating the victory, although some people believe that victory or success in 2024 was perhaps only marginal, and a lot more needs to be done.”
Khurshid added, “The fact remains that beneath the surface, there is something. What’s happening in Bangladesh could happen here… the spread in our country prevents things from blowing up in the manner they have in Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh is currently experiencing a volatile political situation, with protests primarily led by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs. These protests have escalated into wider and more violent anti-government demonstrations.
Sheikh Hasina, who recently arrived in India after tendering her resignation, may continue to stay in Delhi or move to another location later.