Advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday, October 15, defended calls for a change in government, saying that demanding “regime change” is not an offence in a democracy. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of double standards, alleging that it had also organised protests seeking a change in government.

“There will definitely be a regime change. We all want a regime change. Is there anything wrong with that?” Bhushan said in Delhi.

He alleged that the BJP was accusing others of conspiring for regime change despite having organised similar protests in the past.

“BJP protested multiple times for regime change and then they say they are teaching conspiracy for regime change,” he said.

Bhushan maintained that seeking a change in government was every citizen’s constitutional right. Referring to the Supreme Court’s position on sedition, he argued that criticism of the government was not an offence unless it encouraged violence or public disorder.

“Getting the regime change is every citizen’s constitutional right. That is why Supreme Court had said that sedition law made by Britishers was unconstitutional and that is why until and unless violence or causing public disorder is not encouraged, only creating disaffection against the government is not an offence under our Constitution,” he said.

The remarks came amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the security restrictions in Delhi and alleged excessive action against protesters, students and Opposition leaders.

“You have brought Delhi to a standstill, shut down the Railways, shut down the Metro and turned Delhi into a border, like the India-Pakistan border. You have called in all the forces to Delhi,” Dipke said.

He claimed that authorities had removed protesting students and young people from the streets over the past 10-15 days. He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan had been detained.

Questioning the Centre’s security arrangements for Kumar, Dipke asked, “If he is not helping him win elections, why is Narendra Modi providing him with so much protection?”

The CJP and other organisations have urged people to wave the national flag at Central Park in Connaught Place on Saturday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also backed the call, ANI reported.

AISA activist Neha Bora alleged that journalists from The Caravan and The Quint had been detained for hours despite carrying press cards. She claimed their cameras were taken away and they were warned against covering the protests. Bora also raised concerns over a woman journalist who accused police officer Vivek Bhagat of sexual harassment and later faced a counter-FIR.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard petitions concerning the protests, alleged police excesses, transport restrictions, journalists and the SIR exercise. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices on electoral-roll challenges, including a plea by Rahul Gandhi and 12 other Opposition leaders.

Addressing the October 12 march towards the Supreme Court, the CJI said, “Nobody can browbeat us (judiciary).”

The court directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage and digital evidence, sought explanations over Jantar Mantar’s removal as a designated protest venue, and barred coercive action against the woman journalist while her case was examined. It also sought responses on police powers under Section 172 of the BNSS, alleged assaults and illegal detention of lawyers, and accountability for protest organisers.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta clarified that the apology mentioned in affidavits in contempt proceedings did not amount to an admission of wrongdoing. The case concerns alleged non-compliance with court directions to maintain Metro and railway services during the October 10 protest.