Foreign Funding, External Interference Behind Certain Protests in India: Harish Salve

In an interview with IANS, Salve alleged that some foreign countries, particularly the United States, were unhappy with India. He also suggested that political upheavals in neighbouring Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reflected a pattern of external interference. These assertions were his allegations and were not substantiated with evidence in the interview material.

“I believe that foreign funding is being provided for these efforts and that they are being instigated from abroad. This is my allegation. Some foreign countries, particularly the United States, are not happy with India,” Salve said.

Referring to developments in the neighbouring countries, he questioned the role of external forces in the political changes witnessed there.

“Is there any doubt about who was behind the turmoil in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh? Who removed Sheikh Hasina, and who brought in the new Prime Minister there? In my opinion, external forces were behind these events,” he said.

Salve also questioned the sources of funding for protest activities in India, referring to some YouTubers and individuals, including Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das, as well as people living overseas. He argued that organising demonstrations required financial resources and called for investigations into the funding behind such activities.

He alleged that a pattern had emerged over the past six to eight months, claiming that certain groups were seeking to impede the government’s work as India dealt with economic and strategic challenges, including the Strait of Hormuz crisis, technological development and efforts to strengthen its satellite capabilities.

“I am fully confident that an investigation will be initiated. However, I do not consider this a people’s movement,” he said.

Salve said he did not see evidence of a widespread public uprising. Comparing the protests with student demonstrations over examination paper leaks, he argued that the latter had received public support because people understood the difficulties faced by students.

“I don’t live in India, and based on what I have seen, I do not see a widespread public uprising,” he said.

He also expressed concern over what he described as misleading narratives circulating through digital platforms, including YouTube videos, social media reels and short messages.

“Today, narratives are being spread through YouTube videos, reels and one-line messages. Claims are being repeated again and again, which I consider false,” Salve said.

He added that the government had a responsibility to investigate allegations of foreign funding and protect constitutional institutions. He also called for firm action against movements that, in his assessment, were intended to destabilise the system.

Salve expressed the view that the protests would not last long, maintaining that they lacked the characteristics of a genuine mass movement.