AAP offers shield to CJP students facing right-wing threats

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday publicly offered protection to students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar and are reportedly facing threats from right-wing groups.

In a post on X addressed to “Delhi Gen Z”, Bharadwaj wrote: “If any student who peacefully participated in the Jantar Mantar protest is facing threats from right-wing goons in Delhi, do not be scared. Invite them home and let us know. We will take care.”

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal shared Bharadwaj’s statement, calling it a “major announcement” and adding: “We will all come together to set these thugs straight.”

What we can verify

• AAP offers direct protection: Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP’s Delhi chief and a cabinet minister, posted on X telling students who protested at Jantar Mantar “not to be scared” of threats from “right-wing goons” and to contact the party for help. — Free Press Kashmir; The New Indian Express
• Kejriwal amplifies: Arvind Kejriwal shared Bharadwaj’s post, endorsing the protection offer and saying “we will all come together to set these thugs straight.” — The New Indian Express
• Follows Delhi govt FIR withdrawal: The move came a day after the Delhi government’s Home Department ordered no further adverse legal action against those who participated in the CJP protest, with expedited review for those already detained. — Free Press Kashmir
• Criminal-background exception remains: The Delhi government order clarified that legal action would continue against participants with criminal records. — Free Press Kashmir

What remains unverified

• The scale and nature of the alleged right-wing threats against individual students — no police complaint or independent documentation of specific incidents has been cited in the reporting.
• Whether any student has actually contacted AAP for assistance under this offer.
• The identity or affiliation of the “right-wing goons” referenced — no specific organisation or individuals have been named in the available reporting.

Context

The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, sparked by the NEET-UG paper leak and demanding accountability from the Education Ministry, saw sustained student participation through June and July. On 18 July, Sonam Wangchuk was detained by police; on 20 July, a march on Parliament led to clashes. The Delhi government subsequently announced it would not pursue further cases against peaceful protesters, while maintaining action against those with criminal antecedents.

AAP’s public offer of protection marks a shift from the government’s legal-relief order to an explicit political shield, framing the intimidation as a law-and-order issue requiring party-level intervention.

Updated 31 July 2026, 22:45 IST