The political controversy surrounding the recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has taken a fresh and intense turn. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised serious questions and alleged that the accused who assaulted a person during the protest is being shielded by authorities. Amid this escalating political friction, key accused Independent Bhardwaj has come forward to present his side of the story, clarifying the sequence of events that led to the confrontation.
Independent Bhardwaj did not deny hitting the father of Nishu Azad on the head, but he strongly maintained that the act was committed purely in self-defense. According to his account, he found himself cornered when a group of people attempted to attack him at the protest site. Claiming that roughly 20 to 25 individuals swarmed him, Bhardwaj stated that he had to retaliate to protect his own life, which resulted in the injury to Nishu Azad's father.
Explaining his initial presence at the venue, Bhardwaj stated that he went to Jantar Mantar to support the demands related to CJP, rather than to stage a protest against anyone. He emphasized that he arrived alone and did not come with any gang, refuting claims that a hostile group accompanied him. He expressed frustration over what he called a deliberate attempt by detractors to paint him as a criminal and circulate old videos to troll him online.
Detailing the moments before the scuffle broke out, Bhardwaj said he heard various slogans upon arriving and initially stepped away from the main gathering. However, due to the continuous presence of students and issues concerning NEET, he returned to the area. He noticed an individual recording a video of him, whom he later identified as Nishu Azad's father. Bhardwaj claimed he politely asked the man to lower his camera, which immediately triggered a hostile reaction and led to the mob descending upon him.
Defending his actions during the melee, Bhardwaj reiterated that he was wearing a kada on his wrist, and while swinging his arms to fend off the attackers, it inadvertently struck the other man's head. He maintained that he had no intention to cause severe harm or commit murder, categorizing the incident strictly as an act of self-defense. He added that he would continue to defend himself if attacked again in the future.
Addressing the legal proceedings, Bhardwaj stated that Delhi Police have investigated the matter and issued him a notice under Section 41 of the CrPC. He asserted that he respects the police uniform and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, vowing to appear whenever authorities call upon him for questioning. He also clarified his stance regarding mentions of Kapil Mishra, stating he never claimed Mishra personally intervened to clear him, but was merely quoting claims made by others.
The controversy intensified further after Nishu Azad posted an emotional plea on social media seeking help from Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Delhi Police of failing to take action against Bhardwaj. In response, Rahul Gandhi publicly offered his support to Nishu, casting serious doubts on the handling of the case by the police. While law enforcement agencies maintain that action is being taken according to the law, Bhardwaj remains firm on his self-defense plea as the investigation continues to unfold.
