Delhi Police rebukes Kejriwal for 'crackdown' rumours at Jantar Mantar protest
Synopsis
Delhi Police took the rare step of publicly calling out Arvind Kejriwal by name for amplifying crackdown rumours at the CJP student protest site — even as the Home Ministry quietly shut down mobile internet within 1.5 km of Jantar Mantar for eight hours. The dual moves capture the tension at the heart of the standoff: a government insisting it wants dialogue while tightening the information perimeter around the protest.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police publicly rebuked Arvind Kejriwal on 23 July for spreading unverified claims of an imminent crackdown on CJP protesters at Jantar Mantar .
Kejriwal had posted on X questioning whether the government would 'brutally attack its own children' at the protest site.
The Union Home Ministry ordered an 8-hour mobile internet suspension within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar, from 4 pm to midnight on 23 July .
Minister of State Jitendra Singh said the Centre had made four formal dialogue proposals to the CJP in 24 hours , all of which went unanswered.
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra accused opposition leaders of exploiting student politics for electoral gain.
Delhi Police on Thursday, 23 July publicly rebuked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal for circulating unverified claims about an imminent police crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) student protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The force categorically denied any such plan and called on Kejriwal to stop spreading misleading information.
Delhi Police Denial
Posting on its official X account, the Delhi Police stated: 'There is no plan of Delhi Police to crack down on the ongoing protest tonight as is being conveyed. You are advised to refrain from spreading or circulating any misleading/unverified information.' The statement was a direct response to Kejriwal's social media activity, which had amplified a letter from the New Delhi Traders' Association urging member shopkeepers in Connaught Place to down shutters by 6:30 pm Thursday evening.
What Kejriwal Said
In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote: 'Intense security. Piles of ambulances. Will the Modi government once again brutally attack its own children at Jantar Mantar today?' The post framed the security presence as a precursor to violence — a characterisation the police flatly rejected.
Internet Shutdown Around Jantar Mantar
In a significant parallel development, the Union Home Ministry ordered suspension of mobile internet services for eight hours starting 4 pm IST on 23 July within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar. The order, signed by Under Secretary Mahendra Vikram Singh, cited the need to maintain public order and prevent incitement to offences. It was issued under clause (b) of Sub-section (2) of Section 20 of The Telecommunication Act, 2023, read with the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024. The shutdown ran from 4 pm to midnight.
Government's Outreach to Protesters
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, said the Central government had made four formal proposals for talks with the CJP within the preceding 24 hours, but the protesters had remained, in his words, 'unresponsive and uncommunicative.' He said the government had reached out with 'utmost humility' and that its doors were 'open 24x7.' 'We seek their participation in talks on all issues, including NEET,' he added.
BJP Hits Back at Opposition
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra turned the spotlight on the opposition, demanding that Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, and allied leaders explain what was achieved by 'breaching the security of the Prime Minister's residence and the Indian Parliament.' Malhotra described the opposition as 'personality-driven parties rejected by the people for the last 12 years,' and dismissed Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Shiv Sena-UBT President Uddhav Thackeray as 'defeated and frustrated leaders' with no prior connection to student politics. He argued they were exploiting the student movement for political gain.
The standoff at Jantar Mantar — centred on student grievances over exam irregularities, including the NEET controversy — shows no sign of immediate resolution, with both sides dug in and the government's dialogue overtures so far going unanswered.
Point of View
Ordering an eight-hour internet blackout around a student protest while publicly insisting there is 'no crackdown planned' is a contradiction the government has not addressed. The Centre's claim of four unanswered dialogue overtures in 24 hours may be accurate, but the information shutdown makes it harder to verify independently — and harder for protesters to coordinate any response. The BJP's pivot to attacking opposition leaders' student-politics credentials suggests the party sees political cost in the protest's optics, even as it frames the standoff as the opposition's manufactured crisis.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi Police call out Arvind Kejriwal?
Delhi Police posted on its official X account on 23 July rebuking Kejriwal for circulating claims that a midnight crackdown on CJP student protesters at Jantar Mantar was imminent. The force said no such plan existed and asked him to stop spreading misleading or unverified information.
What did Kejriwal post about the Jantar Mantar protest?
Kejriwal shared a letter from the New Delhi Traders' Association on social media and posted on X asking whether the Modi government would 'brutally attack its own children at Jantar Mantar today,' citing heavy security and ambulances near the protest site.
Why was mobile internet shut down near Jantar Mantar?
The Union Home Ministry ordered an eight-hour suspension of mobile internet services within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar from 4 pm to midnight on 23 July, citing the need to maintain public order and prevent incitement to offences. The order was issued under the Telecommunication Act, 2023.
Has the government offered talks to the CJP protesters?
Yes. Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, said the Centre made four formal dialogue proposals to the CJP within 24 hours but received no response. He said the government's doors were 'open 24x7' and that talks could cover all issues, including NEET.
What is the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar about?
Students affiliated with the Cockroach Janta Party have been protesting at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, over alleged exam irregularities, including concerns surrounding the NEET examination. The protest has drawn opposition support and prompted a political confrontation between the ruling BJP and opposition parties.
