Albanias burning Supreme Court sparks political fire in India as BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Raut trade barbs

In Tirana, anti-government violent protests entered their sixth consecutive day, culminating in demonstrators setting fire to offices inside Albanias Supreme Court, alongside attacks on parliament, ministry buildings, and police forces. Over 270 people have been injured in clashes involving water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets as protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The flames in Albania quickly sent shockwaves across the globe when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut shared news of the attack on X, suggesting India take a "lesson" from the unrest:

"The people of Albania have burned down the Supreme Court... helping corrupt prime ministers. The protesting public has also attacked the parliament and government offices... All countries should learn a lesson from these events. Especially India."

https://x.com/rautsanjay61/status/2112234803793953186

Rauts remarks drew swift condemnation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari hit back, accusing the Opposition alliance of openly harboring desires for state-sanctioned violence and institutional collapse:

In a post shared on X, Bhandari said, "Congress party and its alliance are threatening anarchy and the Supreme Court! They are envisioning anarchy! This proves they want chaos! Congress party and their alliance are a threat to Indian Democracy!"

https://x.com/pradip103/status/2112380701681287598

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju amplified the attack, warning that a deliberate, foreign-backed strategy similar to recent unrest in France and Bangladesh was being attempted inside India.

"Anti-India gangs and some politicians had colluded to incite the youth and spread violence on our streets... Regime change in India is absolutely possible, but only through elections, not through Soros."

At the heart of the governments warning is growing evidence that local demonstrations are being leveraged by broader ideological networks.

A recent Fox News Digital investigation into student protests in France identified 50 key organisations driving the movement. Only 15 were actual youth or student groups. 35 organisations comprised communist, socialist, far-left political parties, labour unions, and radical advocacy groups.

The investigation revealed that far-left groups are systematically hijacking genuine student grievances over school conditions to push broader ideological agendas and regime-change narratives.

This far-left network extends beyond France into the US, UK, Greece, Brazil, and India. Reports highlighted organisations such as Indian Alliance Paris, which promoted European demonstrations online while drawing explicit parallels to student protests inside India.

Faced with accusations of inciting foreign-style unrest during nationwide protests over the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, Opposition leaders pushed back against the foreign-conspiracy narrative.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor rejected analogies to overseas violence."India is not Bangladesh and India is not France... We only believe in peaceful protest... What we are calling for is free and fair elections. Its a constitutional issue, not an issue of trying to topple a regime."

Congress MP Pawan Khera accused the ruling party of weaponising European events to polarise voters."Comparing India and Europe is comparing apples with oranges... They are recycling a tired, dangerous trope... In Europe, the protesters are the rioters. In India, it is the State and state-sponsored non-state actors, the Sangh brigade."

As Albanias Prime Minister Edi Rama points to a "foreign hand" while refusing to step down, and France grapples with far-left agitation, the political fallout in New Delhi reveals a deepening rift. With the BJP accusing the Opposition of aligning with global far-left toolkits to undermine Indian institutions, and the Opposition asserting its right to peaceful constitutional protest, the rhetoric highlights how rapidly international turmoil can turn into domestic political warfare.

Albania has been rocked by violent anti-government protests. According to Al Jazeera, offices at the Supreme Court in Tirana were set ablaze as anti-government protests entered their fifth day on October 18.

The protests continued into a sixth day, with Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is serving his fourth term, ruling out resigning.

Hundreds of protesters gathered again on Sunday in front of the Ministry of Education, chanting Rama, resign, in a tense standoff with police, who later used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas to hold back the crowds, the report said.

Shops and institutions in the city centre have secured their doors and windows with metal shutters, while city workers removed paving stones to prevent their use by protesters.

Protesters are demanding better education, more jobs, an end to alleged corruption and Ramas resignation. Local media reports cited by Al Jazeera said demonstrators were primarily attacking government institutions and the police, including the Ministry of Education building and the area around Ramas office.

Rama, who has been in office since 2013, blamed a foreign hand for the surge in protests and said his government was doing its best to address corruption. He said he was ready to listen to the justified demands of students and discuss the costs of education, but insisted those responsible for destruction of property must be held accountable.

As per a Ministry of Health report issued on Sunday morning, 65 people were injured, including 37 police officers, of whom 12 were hospitalised. Since Tuesday, 272 people have been injured in the clashes, including 169 police officers.

Discontent in Albania has been growing for months. The first protests this year, dubbed the Flamingo Revolution, began in May, with demonstrators rebelling against a controversial luxury tourist complex project in southern Albania, reportedly affiliated with Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)