NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday alleged that opposition-led protests in India were part of a conspiracy to destabilise the country.
Addressing a press conference, Dubey questioned Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s alleged links with US lawmakers Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna, while raising concerns over foreign funding, cryptocurrency and online gambling.
Dubey alleged that foreign organisations and individuals were backing protests in an attempt to bring about a change of government in India, and claimed that Congress leaders were working in coordination with foreign elements.
“All these people - whoever is in the leadership of the Congress party, whoever the opposition is - are all working together with foreign powers to not change the regime, but to break the country,” Dubey said.
Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s overseas engagements, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Congress leader had met individuals who, according to him, were working against India’s interests.
“I said in Parliament that under the guise of the Soros Foundation, he meets Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna,” Dubey said, referring to the US lawmakers.
He also questioned the Congress over Rahul’s alleged links with individuals associated with online gambling, cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, and asked whether any of them had participated in the Congress leader’s Bharat Jodo Yatra or other journeys.
"My question to Congress is - Regarding Neville Roy Singham, the cartels involved in online gambling, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency—with which individuals from these circles has Rahul Gandhi met over the past five years? Which of these individuals have participated in his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' or other such journeys? Moreover, whenever he travels abroad, with which of these elements does he meet, and what kind of plans do they devise to destabilise the country?" he added.
Dubey also questioned whether Sam Pitroda had any role in what he described as alleged conspiracies to destabilise India. He sought details of Gandhi’s meetings during overseas visits and asked who among those he had met was associated with the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The BJP MP further referred to US congressional documents that he claimed raised concerns about foreign influence, protests and technology-related issues. He alleged that cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and online gambling could be exploited by foreign actors to influence political movements.
“The future ahead is of artificial intelligence, to destroy the entire world's economy there is cryptocurrency, and the third is online gambling,” he said, calling for greater scrutiny of these areas.
Dubey also defended the government's approach to regulating online gambling and cryptocurrency, stating that online gambling had been banned and cryptocurrency did not have legal tender status in India. He said the government had taken steps to address concerns related to these activities.
The BJP MP also criticised the ongoing protests in Delhi, particularly demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, alleging that they were disrupting public life. His remarks came after Delhi Police summoned Cockroach Janata Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka following their release from judicial custody by a Special Executive Magistrate court. Their release was subject to undertakings to maintain peace and comply with the law.
The development comes as a Fox News Digital investigation titled ‘Global Chaos Inc Grows to 101 Groups’ identified 101 organisations across nine countries that it described as part of a “red-green protest ecosystem”, referring to Islamist and communist groups. The report also flagged Indian Alliance Paris (IAP), a France-based organisation, alleging that it was “connecting French and Indian protest messaging” and was “partnered with the People’s Forum in Manhattan”.
It also cited an October 16 briefing by Progressive International that grouped protests in France, Spain, India and Albania, asking whether the “new rebellions can acquire the organised power to change the conditions that produced them?”. The organisation stated: “These are the forces that Progressive International is working to support and connect.”
The report’s references to India come amid scrutiny of Rahul Gandhi’s overseas engagements. During his 2024 visit to the United States, the Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition met several US lawmakers at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. The meeting was hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman and attended by Ilhan Omar, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee and others.
Omar, a Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, has drawn criticism in India over her visit to Pakistan in 2022, during which she met then-Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former prime minister Imran Khan and travelled to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
India condemned the visit, describing it as “narrow-minded politics”. Reports at the time said the Pakistani government sponsored her trip and covered her accommodation and expenses. Omar was also among the US lawmakers who boycotted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress.
