India, June 22 -- The phrase 'smelling a foreign hand' is a famous political idiom, most frequently associated with Indian politicians and government officials. It became a staple in Indian political rhetoric during the latter half of the twentieth century. Leaders would invoke the 'foreign hand' to suggest that internal unrest, protests, or economic troubles were secretly being orchestrated or funded by rival foreign intelligence agencies trying to destabilise the nation.

In modern commentary, the term is frequently referenced by the media, political satirists, and columnists to critique how ruling parties deflect blame for domestic policy failure or grassroots public dissent.

Political commentators and analysts, however, suggest that...