Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra: Opposition hijacking student movement for political survival
Synopsis
Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra didn't just defend the government on NEET — he went on the offensive, releasing a list of 10 Congress-era paper leaks and targeting Kejriwal over Punjab's pharmacy exam scandal. The press conference reframes the student agitation as an opposition-manufactured crisis, with BJP positioning its own DUSU-rooted leaders as the authentic voice of student welfare.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra accused opposition parties of hijacking the student movement and fomenting violence, at a press conference on 24 July in New Delhi .
Malhotra named Rahul Gandhi , Arvind Kejriwal , Akhilesh Yadav , and Uddhav Thackeray as leaders with no student politics background who are exploiting the agitation.
BJP released a list of 10 major paper leaks during the Congress government (2004–2014) and cited a pharmacy exam leak under AAP's Punjab government .
The re-NEET examination has been conducted and results declared, according to Malhotra, who welcomed PM Modi 's fast-track court decision for paper leak cases.
Higher education institutions grew by 25% and universities by 69.7% between 2014-15 and 2023-24 , per figures cited at the press conference.
Dalit student enrolment in higher education rose 51.4% and OBC student enrolment rose 60.2% during the same period, according to the data presented.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra on Thursday, 24 July accused opposition parties of hijacking the ongoing student movement to serve their own political interests, alleging that they are orchestrating violence from behind the scenes. Malhotra made these remarks at a joint press conference in New Delhi alongside Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood.
Key Accusations Against the Opposition
Malhotra argued that what is unfolding across the country is not genuine student politics but a calculated attempt by opposition parties — which have, in his words, been 'losing elections one after another' — to salvage their political futures. He directly named Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray, describing them as 'defeated and frustrated leaders' with no personal history in student politics.
'In this process, they are hijacking the student movement, spreading violence from behind the scenes, crossing political boundaries, and thereby defaming the student movement,' Malhotra said.
He also challenged opposition leaders to explain why they breached the security of the Prime Minister's residence and Parliament, and why they are, according to him, now avoiding a parliamentary discussion on the NEET examination.
NEET Paper Leak: BJP's Counter-Narrative
Malhotra contended that the re-NEET examination has already been conducted and its results declared satisfactorily, asserting that the issue has effectively been resolved. He welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases, calling it evidence of the government's seriousness.
Malhotra and Sood jointly released a list of competitive examination paper leaks that reportedly occurred during the Congress-led government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh between 2004 and 2014, citing 10 major incidents. They also referenced a recent pharmacy examination paper leak under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, demanding accountability from both Gandhi and Kejriwal.
BJP's Student Politics Credentials
Making the case that the BJP has a deeper and more authentic connection to student politics than the opposition, Malhotra pointed out that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood are both former Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) presidents. He also cited BJP President Nitin Nabin and former BJP President J.P. Nadda as leaders who began their political journeys through student movements.
'Today, two former DUSU Presidents, Rekha Gupta and Ashish Sood, are serving as the Chief Minister of Delhi and Education Minister respectively,' Malhotra noted.
Education Sector Growth Under Modi Government
Malhotra cited official data to argue that the Modi government has significantly expanded access to higher education. Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, the number of higher education institutions reportedly increased by 25 per cent and the number of universities by 69.7 per cent. During the same period, enrolment of Dalit students in higher education rose by 51.4 per cent, while OBC student enrolment increased by 60.2 per cent, according to the figures presented.
Minister Sood's Appeal to Students
Education Minister Ashish Sood, himself a former student leader, appealed directly to agitating students, acknowledging that their anger is 'completely justified.' He said the government is not offering temporary fixes, citing the Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations and the fast-track court decision as evidence of structural reform. 'The successful conduct of the NEET re-examination is a result of this commitment,' Sood said.
With the political temperature around student grievances remaining high, all eyes will be on whether the opposition responds to the BJP's paper-leak accountability challenge in Parliament.
Point of View
The party is attempting to neutralise the NEET controversy through historical whataboutery — a tactic that deflects accountability without resolving the systemic failures that allowed the current leak to occur. The education growth figures cited are real, but enrolment numbers and institutional counts do not, by themselves, address examination integrity. The more pointed challenge for the BJP is whether the fast-track courts and Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations translate into a leak-proof examination infrastructure — or remain, like past reform announcements, largely declaratory.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra say about the student movement?
Malhotra alleged that opposition parties — including the Congress, AAP, and others — have hijacked the student movement to serve their political interests, spreading violence behind the scenes. He made these remarks at a joint press conference with Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on 24 July in New Delhi.
What is the BJP's stand on the NEET paper leak controversy?
The BJP has welcomed PM Modi's decision to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases. Malhotra argued that the re-NEET examination has already been conducted with satisfactory results, and cited Radhakrishnan Committee recommendations as evidence of structural reform, not just a temporary fix.
What paper leaks did the BJP highlight against the Congress and AAP?
BJP leaders released a list of 10 major competitive examination paper leaks that reportedly occurred during the Congress-led government under PM Manmohan Singh between 2004 and 2014. They also cited a recent pharmacy examination paper leak under the AAP government in Punjab.
Why did Malhotra mention DUSU and student politics?
Malhotra sought to establish the BJP's student politics credentials by pointing out that Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood are both former DUSU presidents. He contrasted this with opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, and Uddhav Thackeray, whom he described as having no background in student movements.
How has higher education expanded under the Modi government, according to BJP?
According to figures presented at the press conference, higher education institutions increased by 25% and universities by 69.7% between 2014-15 and 2023-24. Dalit student enrolment rose 51.4% and OBC student enrolment rose 60.2% during the same period.
