Delhi BJP slams Left-backed protesters at Jantar Mantar, cites law and order threat
Synopsis
Delhi BJP has gone on the offensive against Left-backed protesters at Jantar Mantar, alleging bussed-in participants from Punjab, JNU students raising 'objectionable' slogans, and a deliberate effort to disrupt Delhi's festive business season — framing it all as political desperation ahead of 2027 Assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on 4 October 2026 alleged that Left-linked protesters are disrupting law and order at Jantar Mantar , New Delhi .
Kapoor claimed the AAP and its Communist allies could not mobilise even 50 Delhiites , alleging buses were brought in from Punjab and students from JNU participated.
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra accused opposition parties — including Congress , AAP , Samajwadi Party , RJD , and TMC — of trying to derail the festive business season that began 1 October 2026 .
Malhotra said protests in July 2026 had already hurt a full month of business activity in Delhi.
Assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled for early 2027 , providing the electoral backdrop to the ongoing political standoff.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Sunday, 4 October 2026, condemned protests at Jantar Mantar, alleging that individuals linked to Communist ideology are deliberately disrupting the national capital's law and order and vitiating its political atmosphere. The remarks came as opposition-backed demonstrators gathered multiple times through the day at the iconic protest site in New Delhi.
BJP's Allegations Against the Protesters
Kapoor claimed that the faces visible at Jantar Mantar on Sunday were the same individuals who had participated in what he termed the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement in July 2026. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its Communist allies had failed to mobilise even 50 people from Delhi itself.
'Even among those who turn up, videos seen on Saturday revealed that either one or two buses are being brought in daily from Punjab, or students from JNU associated with Communist ideology are participating and raising objectionable and uncivilised anti-government slogans,' Kapoor said in a statement. He also described as 'laughable' the circulation on social media platform X of a video showing AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj being removed from the protest site.
What the Delhi BJP President Said
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra described the protests as 'hollow,' alleging they were staged by parties — including the Indian National Congress, Communist parties, AAP, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee — that he said had been rejected by voters. Malhotra claimed the demonstrations were putting undue pressure on the police and administration.
'Through these, they are vitiating the country's political atmosphere and damaging the business season that began across the country, including Delhi and Mumbai, from October 1,' Malhotra said, adding that the opposition was 'attempting to derail the country's economy during the festive season.'
Business Community Concerns Cited
Malhotra alleged that protests in July 2026 had adversely affected an entire month of business activity in Delhi. With the festive season now under way, he claimed that Delhi's trader organisations had reached out to the BJP to condemn the renewed agitation. 'Several organisations have contacted us and condemned these protests, which are being organised out of fear of political defeat,' he said.
Electoral Context Behind the Protests
Malhotra framed the demonstrations within an electoral lens, noting that Assembly elections are scheduled for early 2027. He claimed AAP is already facing the prospect of losing power in Punjab, while the Congress faces major losses in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Punjab. The opposition has not yet publicly responded to these specific claims. The protests, reportedly centred on the right to vote and concerns over the Chief Election Commissioner, signal an intensifying pre-election political battle in the capital.
Point of View
The party is simultaneously invoking trader grievances to widen the political cost of the protests beyond ideology. The opposition's counter-narrative — rights to vote and concerns about the Election Commission — has so far not been addressed on its merits by BJP leaders, who have focused almost entirely on the protesters' alleged affiliations rather than their stated demands. That selective framing will likely define the political battle in Delhi in the months ahead.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Delhi BJP criticising the Jantar Mantar protests?
Delhi BJP alleges that the protests, backed by Left-affiliated groups and opposition parties, are disrupting law and order and harming Delhi's festive business season. Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor claimed protesters were brought in from Punjab and JNU rather than being organic Delhi residents.
Who are the protesters at Jantar Mantar and what are their demands?
According to BJP leaders, the protesters include AAP leaders, Congress members, and Communist-linked students, reportedly agitating over the right to vote and raising concerns about the Chief Election Commissioner. The opposition has not publicly detailed its full set of demands in this context.
What did Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra say about the business impact?
Malhotra claimed the protests are damaging the festive business season that began across Delhi and Mumbai from 1 October 2026, and that similar protests in July had adversely affected an entire month of business activity. He said trader organisations in Delhi had contacted the BJP to condemn the agitation.
What is the electoral context behind these protests?
Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for early 2027. BJP leaders have alleged that the demonstrations are motivated by political desperation, claiming AAP faces losing Punjab and Congress faces setbacks in multiple states. The opposition has not formally responded to these electoral characterisations.
Was AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj removed from the protest site?
Delhi BJP spokesperson Kapoor referenced a video circulating on social media platform X that reportedly showed AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj being removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site, describing its posting as 'laughable.' NationPress has not independently verified the circumstances of the removal.
