Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra slams Kejriwal over 'mental Naxal' remark
Synopsis
Arvind Kejriwal's self-description as a 'mental Naxal' has become political ammunition for Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra, who used it to revive long-standing charges of ideological inconsistency and corruption against the AAP convenor — a sign of how sharply the two parties are clashing in post-election Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra on 17 August criticised Arvind Kejriwal for calling himself a 'mental Naxal' while claiming to be a patriot.
Malhotra alleged Kejriwal supports student protests in BJP-governed Delhi but stays silent on police action in AAP-governed Punjab and allied Jharkhand .
He cited Kejriwal's disruption of Republic Day arrangements on Rajpath and a sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor's residence as evidence of an 'anarchic mindset'.
Delhi BJP Secretary Manoj Kumar accused AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar of politicising the killing of sanitation worker Anil .
Delhi Safai Commission Chairperson Sunita Kangra is reportedly coordinating relief for Anil's family; BJP says an arrest is expected soon.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party President Harsh Malhotra on Monday, 17 August launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal after Kejriwal referred to himself as a 'mental Naxal' while simultaneously claiming to be a patriot seeking systemic change. Malhotra dismissed the self-description as an inadvertent admission and used it to mount a broader political offensive against the AAP chief.
Malhotra's Core Charge
The Delhi BJP president argued that Kejriwal's own words confirm what critics have long alleged — a politically Naxal mindset. As evidence, Malhotra cited what he described as a glaring double standard: Kejriwal, he said, vocally supports student protests in Delhi, where the BJP governs, yet stays silent when students face police action in Punjab and Jharkhand, both governed by AAP or its allies.
Malhotra also called Kejriwal's promise to dismantle a 'rotten system' and make India corruption-free a 'farce', pointing to the track records of AAP administrations in Delhi and Punjab as evidence that neither systemic reform nor anti-corruption outcomes had materialised.
Historical Incidents Cited
The Delhi BJP president invoked two episodes from Kejriwal's time in office to reinforce his characterisation. He recalled that in the very first year of AAP's government in Delhi, Kejriwal allegedly disrupted Republic Day arrangements on the then Rajpath. He also referenced a later sit-in staged at the Lieutenant Governor's residence, which Malhotra described as evidence of an 'anarchic' disposition.
This is not the first time BJP leaders have deployed the 'Naxal' label against Kejriwal — the charge has surfaced repeatedly during electoral contests in Delhi and Punjab, and tends to intensify whenever Kejriwal aligns with protest movements.
Separate Row Over Sanitation Worker's Death
In a related development, Delhi BJP Secretary and former MLA Manoj Kumar accused AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar of exploiting the killing of sanitation worker Anil, who was employed with a private company, for political gain. Kumar called on the AAP legislator to halt what he termed 'petty politics' and instead support the Delhi Safai Commission's efforts to secure compensation and compassionate employment for a member of the deceased's family.
Delhi Safai Commission Chairperson Sunita Kangra and the BJP's Mayur Vihar district unit are reportedly in contact with Anil's family. Manoj Kumar added that BJP leadership is in touch with senior police officials and expressed confidence that the accused would be arrested soon.
Political Context
The exchange comes amid heightened political friction in the capital, where the BJP wrested power from AAP earlier this year. With AAP still in control of Punjab and seeking to rebuild its national profile, verbal skirmishes between the two parties have become a near-daily feature of the Delhi political landscape. Kejriwal's self-referential 'mental Naxal' remark — the precise context of which was not detailed in available reports — appears to have handed the BJP an opening it moved quickly to exploit.
How AAP responds to Malhotra's broadside, and whether Kejriwal clarifies or doubles down on his original remark, will shape the next phase of this political exchange.
Point of View
Since differential responses to protest across states it controls or supports is a verifiable pattern. What the exchange really signals is that post-election Delhi has become a permanent campaign zone, with both parties competing for a narrative ahead of future contests. The sanitation worker subplot is telling too: it shows how quickly local governance failures get absorbed into the BJP-AAP blame cycle, often at the expense of the actual victims.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Arvind Kejriwal say about being a 'mental Naxal'?
Kejriwal reportedly referred to himself as a 'mental Naxal' while asserting that he is a patriot who wants to change the system. The precise context of the remark was not fully detailed in available reports, but Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra seized on it to argue it was an inadvertent admission of Kejriwal's political ideology.
Why did Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra criticise Kejriwal?
Malhotra criticised Kejriwal on 17 August, arguing that the 'mental Naxal' self-description confirmed a politically Naxal mindset. He also cited Kejriwal's alleged silence on police action against students in Punjab and Jharkhand — states where AAP or its allies govern — as evidence of double standards.
What historical incidents did Malhotra reference in his attack?
Malhotra cited two episodes: Kejriwal's alleged disruption of Republic Day arrangements on the then Rajpath in the first year of AAP's Delhi government, and a later sit-in at the Lieutenant Governor's residence, both of which Malhotra described as expressions of an anarchic mindset.
What is the controversy over sanitation worker Anil?
Delhi BJP Secretary Manoj Kumar accused AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar of politicising the killing of Anil, a sanitation worker employed with a private company. Kumar said the Delhi Safai Commission and the BJP's Mayur Vihar unit are working to secure compensation and compassionate employment for Anil's family, and that BJP leadership is in contact with senior police officials expecting an arrest soon.
What is the broader political context of this clash?
The BJP-AAP war of words has intensified since the BJP recaptured power in Delhi. With AAP still governing Punjab and seeking to rebuild nationally, both parties have engaged in near-daily verbal confrontations, using every political development — including Kejriwal's own statements — as campaign material.
