Delhi BJP slams Congress, AAP, CJP over Jantar Mantar protest ban
Synopsis
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra has gone on the offensive against Congress, AAP, and CJP over their opposition to removing Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site — citing the Congress's own 1993 Boat Club ban and Kejriwal's 2016 SDM order as evidence of rank hypocrisy. The BJP frames the shift as a public-interest move; critics see it as an attempt to render dissent invisible.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra on 13 October 2026 accused Congress , AAP , and CJP of politically motivated opposition to removing Jantar Mantar from the protest venues list.
Delhi Police has designated three new venues to replace Jantar Mantar as protest sites in the capital.
Malhotra cited the Congress 's own ban on protests at the Boat Club in 1993 as evidence of double standards.
Arvind Kejriwal was accused of using an SDM order in August 2016 to ban protests near his residence.
BJP argued that Jantar Mantar, active as a protest site for nearly 33 years (1993–2026), now disrupts daily life in a changed Delhi.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on 13 October 2026 sharply criticised the Indian National Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) for opposing the Delhi Police decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues in the capital. Malhotra argued that the opposition from these parties was purely politically motivated and ignored the genuine inconvenience caused to Delhi residents.
BJP's Core Argument
Malhotra contended that from 1993 to 2026 — a span of nearly 33 years — Jantar Mantar had hosted thousands of demonstrations. However, he maintained that in a rapidly changing Delhi, protests at the site now routinely disrupt daily life for ordinary citizens. He said the Delhi Police's move to designate three new protest venues as replacements was a decision taken firmly in the public interest.
Congress Accused of Historic Double Standard
The BJP president invoked historical precedent to challenge the Congress's protests. He reminded that the Boat Club in New Delhi had served as a protest venue until 1993, when it was the Congress itself that banned demonstrations there. Malhotra also alleged that Congress governments had resorted to baton charges and even firing against movements opposing cow slaughter, farmers' agitations, and the Ram Temple movement — events he said remained fresh in public memory.
AAP Singled Out Over Kejriwal-Era Order
Malhotra specifically targeted the AAP, calling its objections 'hollow.' He alleged that party leader Arvind Kejriwal, in August 2016, had an order issued through his Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to impose what Malhotra described as an unlawful ban on protests near Kejriwal's official residence. He further alleged that the Punjab Police, under the AAP government in Punjab, frequently resorts to baton charges against demonstrators from various sections of society, including employees, students, traders, and farmers.
Three New Venues Designated
According to Malhotra, the Delhi Police has identified three alternative venues to absorb protest activity previously concentrated at Jantar Mantar. He did not name the venues in his statement. The move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue it amounts to a restriction on the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Those opposing the change, including the CJP, reportedly view the relocation as an attempt to push dissent to less visible locations.
With the controversy intensifying ahead of the Delhi civic season, the designation of new protest venues is likely to remain a flashpoint between the ruling party at the Centre and opposition groups in the capital.
Point of View
But whether the three new venues offer comparable visibility and accessibility. That answer, conspicuously absent from Malhotra's statement, is what civil society groups — and courts — are likely to press for next.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Jantar Mantar been removed from Delhi's designated protest venues list?
Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues, citing the disruption that demonstrations at the site cause to daily life in a densely populated area of the capital. Three alternative venues have reportedly been designated in its place.
What did Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra say about the opposition's criticism?
Malhotra called the objections from Congress, AAP, and CJP politically motivated and hypocritical, pointing to the Congress's own ban on Boat Club protests in 1993 and Arvind Kejriwal's alleged use of an SDM order in August 2016 to ban protests near his residence.
Which parties and organisations are opposing the Jantar Mantar ban?
The Indian National Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have all come out against the Delhi Police decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues.
What is the history of Jantar Mantar as a protest site?
Jantar Mantar has served as a designated protest venue in New Delhi from 1993 to 2026 — a period of nearly 33 years during which thousands of demonstrations were held there. It replaced the Boat Club as the primary protest site after the Congress government banned protests at the Boat Club in 1993.
What are the concerns of those opposing the removal of Jantar Mantar?
Critics, including the CJP, argue that moving protests to alternative, less central venues effectively limits the visibility and impact of peaceful assembly, raising constitutional concerns about the right to protest. They reportedly view the relocation as an attempt to push dissent away from public prominence.
