When governments face dissent, blaming outsiders can be more convenient than confronting the grievances at home. India’s latest unrest has revived this familiar political reflex, with allegations of foreign interference being invoked to cast suspicion on protests demanding accountability from the authorities. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has warned of international conspiracies, while BJP leaders have accused the opposition of conspiring with foreign forces to destabilise the country.

The Prime Minister, too, has portrayed political opponents as damaging India’s interests. Yet allegations of a foreign-directed campaign require evidence of organisation, financing or operational control. Political associations, overseas travel and expressions of solidarity do not, by themselves, establish a conspiracy. Claims of an international network coordinating protests across several countries have added to the controversy. But connections between organisations, even when genuine, do not establish that they created or directed India’s unrest. Allegations of foreign interference must be independently verified rather than accepted on the strength of political assertions.

None of this means foreign interference is imaginary. Governments, intelligence agencies, political........

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