'Inspired by Bangladesh...': Harsh Goenka’s post sparks attention

RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka’s social media post about Bangladesh has drawn attention amid a political debate over comparisons between the neighbouring country’s 2024 student-led uprising and the ongoing protests in India over electoral issues.

In a post on X on October 16, Goenka encouraged people to learn from countries known for their strengths, citing Japan for its culture, the United States for innovation, Germany for engineering, Singapore for discipline and Switzerland for precision. He then added, “Yet, the irony is that some choose to be inspired by Bangladesh.”

The controversy follows comments by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, who expressed solidarity with Bangladeshi student activists and said their movement offered lessons for young people in India seeking to mobilise around democratic and voting rights.

READ THIS: “Fight Is for Regime Change”: Prashant Bhushan’s Remark Sparks BJP-Congress Showdown

The comparison comes as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other groups have been involved in protests concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands related to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising began with student protests against the government’s job quota system and escalated into a wider movement that led to the ouster of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August that year. The developments have since become a point of political reference in India.

The BJP has criticised comparisons with Bangladesh, alleging that such remarks suggest an attempt at regime change. Opposition leaders, meanwhile, have maintained that protests and demands for political change in India must take place through democratic means.