Police response to Jantar Mantar protesters was insufficient: Rajasthan Minister Madan Dilawar

Speaking to reporters in Jaipur on Saturday, Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar defended the Delhi Police's action against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters at Jantar Mantar, asserting that police had exercised "great restraint" and that the response given to the agitators was "less" considering their behavior.

Dilawar rejected calls for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak row, stating that a minister does not need to step down "due to pressure from hooligans."

What we can verify

1. Statements by Madan Dilawar Addressing the press in Jaipur, Dilawar claimed that anti-social elements had infiltrated the student protest. "I believe that the manner in which there was hooliganism... the response was less (woh kum tha)," Dilawar said. He added: "Police exercised great restraint. Given the acts they were committing, they deserved exactly that kind of treatment."

2. Accusations of infiltration Dilawar drew a distinction between actual NEET aspirants and current demonstrators, alleging that "hoodlums and goondas defamed them" and claiming that "some traitors infiltrated the protest who think wrong of the nation."

3. Refusal to demand or resign Dilawar maintained that paper leak culprits are being jailed and fast-track courts announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will punish offenders. Asked about demands for his own resignation over a school building collapse in Jhalawar last year, Dilawar responded that he would resign only when the Rajasthan Chief Minister asks him to.

What remains unverified

• Claims by Dilawar regarding specific slogans or actions by individual protesters at Jantar Mantar [unverified].
• Political claims alleging an Opposition conspiracy behind the student gatherings [unverified].

Why this matters

Dilawar's remarks highlight the sharp partisan divide over police tactics used during the 34-day CJP movement. While student groups and opposition parties have condemned lathi-charges and pellet gun injuries at Jantar Mantar, BJP state ministers continue to back law enforcement measures, framing the ongoing street mobilization as infiltrated by non-student elements.