National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has asserted that “poor governance” was the primary cause behind the uprisings that resulted in changes of governments in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka over the last three-and-a-half years.
Delivering the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on governance on the occasion of National Unity Day on Friday (October 31, 2025), Mr. Doval emphasized that governance plays a “seminal role” in the “nation-building process” and in safeguarding a nation-state.
“The rise and fall of the great empires, monarchies, oligarchies, aristocracies or democracies is actually a history of their governance. In the recent cases of regime change through non-constitutional methods in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and others, these were actually cases of poor governance,” Mr. Doval said, referring to the political transitions witnessed in India’s neighbourhood in recent years.
His remarks came shortly after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on Awami League supporters to boycott the February 2026 election in Bangladesh, which is currently being administered by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus.
“I believe governance plays a seminal role in the nation-building process, as well as in securing a nation and helping it achieve its goals and aspirations,” Mr. Doval reiterated, citing historical examples where internal weaknesses and ineffective governance led to the collapse of empires.
