Mumbai — Following the collapse of the Nepalese government amidst widespread protests, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut addressed the media, highlighting what he sees as similar issues in India. He argued that the Nepalese people’s outrage over corruption, dictatorship, and the lavish lifestyles of political leaders is a sentiment that also resonates with many in India.
Raut warned that the “fire” of unrest from Nepal could easily spread across the border, given that India shares a border with five states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim. “The youth here, if it is quiet today, it’s because they are unemployed,” Raut said, pointing to the widespread problems facing young people in India.
He also criticized the government’s free ration program, stating that it highlights the country’s poverty. “Our prime minister gives free ration to 80 crore people. What does that reflect? That India has a poor population which is living on free ration. This is exactly how Nepal is and used to be,” he remarked.
Raut also took a jab at the ruling party, alleging that “taxpayers’ money goes abroad” and that the children of some ministers “live in Dubai, some in Singapore.” He directly criticized Home Minister Amit Shah and his son Jay Shah, who is the current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
According to Raut, the main reason a similar movement hasn’t erupted in India is because the country’s people still hold onto the values of Mahatma Gandhi. “The PM can abuse Gandhi all he wants, but the only reason the Modi government is still standing and alive is because of Gandhi’s values,” he asserted.
The comments come as Nepal’s “Gen-Z” protests have led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and most of his cabinet. The protests, which were triggered by a social media ban, quickly escalated into a widespread movement demanding an end to corruption and government authoritarianism.