Modi's dialogue skills, youth trust ended students' agitation: Delhi BJP chief
Synopsis
Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra says PM Modi's direct engagement with students set a new standard in resolving mass protests — while simultaneously accusing Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi of attempting to weaponise the agitation. The claim that police identified over 2,500 individuals with criminal records at Jantar Mantar is the sharpest factual assertion in an otherwise politically charged statement.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra on 25 July credited PM Modi's dialogue skills for resolving the student protest over exam irregularities.
Malhotra described Modi's approach of seeking suggestions from youth during the resolution as unprecedented .
He accused AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of making provocative speeches to turn the protest violent.
Police facial-recognition at Jantar Mantar reportedly identified more than 2,500 individuals with criminal records within the agitation.
Malhotra alleged Kejriwal posted a false video on Friday evening claiming police would clear the protest site, calling it an attempt to incite violence.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Saturday, 25 July credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sensitivity and dialogue skills for defusing the student protest over exam irregularities, saying the country was appreciating the manner in which the Prime Minister engaged with the youth to find a resolution.
Modi's Approach Called Unprecedented
Malhotra said the way in which the Prime Minister actively sought suggestions from students during the resolution process was without precedent. He argued that the episode had only strengthened Modi's standing among young voters. 'The youth of the country stood with Prime Minister Modi yesterday, stands with him today, and will continue to stand with him in the future because he has lived up to the aspirations of the youth,' Malhotra said.
Opposition Leaders Accused of Inflaming the Protest
The Delhi BJP chief trained his fire on opposition leaders, alleging that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made provocative speeches with the intent of turning the student movement violent. Malhotra argued that this conduct had exposed their true colours before the public and the youth alike.
He further alleged that throughout the agitation, a visible power struggle played out between Kejriwal and Gandhi. According to Malhotra, Gandhi did not hesitate to compromise the security of the Prime Minister's residence, while Kejriwal was engaged in provoking unrest at Jantar Mantar from the outset.
Criminal Infiltration Flagged at Jantar Mantar
Malhotra pointed to the identification of more than 2,500 individuals with criminal records through the police facial-recognition system deployed in the Jantar Mantar area, asserting that criminal elements had dangerously infiltrated the agitation. The claim, attributed to police data, adds a law-and-order dimension to the BJP's narrative around the protest.
Kejriwal's Video Post Draws Sharp Criticism
The BJP president specifically targeted a video posted by Kejriwal on Friday evening that allegedly claimed police would remove the protest site that night. Malhotra called the post false and said it demonstrated that the AAP leadership had no genuine concern for the students — their sole aim, he alleged, was to incite violence and defame the Union government. This comes amid a broader BJP effort to distinguish the government's response to the student movement from what it characterises as opposition opportunism.
Point of View
Discredit the opposition, and reframe criminal infiltration data as proof of a conspiracy. What it does not address is the underlying grievance — the exam irregularities that sparked the protest in the first place. The facial-recognition figure of 2,500 criminal identifications is a significant claim that warrants independent verification; deploying it without detail risks conflating protesters with bad actors. The BJP's framing also sidesteps the question of why student discontent over exam integrity reached protest scale at all — an accountability gap that neither side has fully answered.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra say about PM Modi and the student protest?
Malhotra said PM Modi's sensitivity and dialogue skills were instrumental in resolving the student agitation over exam irregularities. He described Modi's approach of seeking suggestions directly from youth as unprecedented and said it had strengthened the Prime Minister's image among young people.
What allegations did the Delhi BJP chief make against Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi?
Malhotra alleged that both Kejriwal and Gandhi made provocative speeches aimed at turning the student movement violent. He also alleged that Kejriwal posted a false video on Friday evening claiming police would clear the Jantar Mantar protest site, calling it a deliberate attempt to incite unrest and defame the Union government.
What is the significance of the 2,500 criminal identifications at Jantar Mantar?
According to Malhotra, police used a facial-recognition system in the Jantar Mantar area and identified more than 2,500 individuals with criminal records among those present at the agitation. The BJP cited this as evidence that criminal elements had infiltrated the student protest.
What was the student protest about?
The protest was over exam irregularities. The agitation drew significant public attention and eventually led to a resolution process in which, according to Malhotra, PM Modi directly engaged with students and sought their suggestions.
How has the BJP characterised the opposition's role in the student agitation?
The BJP, through Malhotra's statement, has characterised the opposition's involvement as opportunistic and aimed at inciting violence rather than supporting students. Malhotra also alleged a visible power struggle between Kejriwal and Gandhi played out during the protest period.
