# Kejriwal accuses government of lathi-charging Jantar Mantar protesters, urges it to drop its ego

> Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to criticise the government over an alleged lathi charge on the massive crowd of youths gathered at Jantar Mantar, urging it to listen instead.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Leaders Speak · **Published:** 2026-07-20 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/neta-ji/jntara-mntara-para-lathicharja-ko-lekara-kejarivala-ne-sarakara-ko-ghera-kaha-ahnkara-chhorakara-yuvaon-ki-sunen-8995 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** ArvindKejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has taken aim at the government on the social media platform X over police action against the huge crowd of young protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

## What Kejriwal accused the government of
In his post, Kejriwal claimed that lakhs of youths from across the country have gathered at Jantar Mantar, but instead of hearing their demands, the government is having them lathi-charged. He called this wrong and directly appealed to the government, saying these young people are children of this very country who have taken to the streets seeking justice. In his post he wrote, "Drop the ego and listen to them." His post also carried a link related to the scene on the ground.

## Weeks of simmering protest at Jantar Mantar
This standoff has been building for weeks. The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, has been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since early June, and alongside it, activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since the last week of June. According to reports, by mid-July he had been fasting for roughly twenty days, drawing growing support from opposition leaders and film personalities. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also wrote an open letter to the protesting youths on July 15. By July 19, reports described the ground situation as having grown far more tense, with the crowd spread across roughly a kilometre outside the entry gate, many protesters sleeping on the open ground, and Delhi Police keeping a close watch on every movement.

## About Gaya
Gaya, the Bihar city that has come up in reports around this episode, is a district headquarters and the state's second-largest city, where Magahi is the regional language. It holds historical significance across the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths and finds mention in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The city is ringed on three sides by the rocky hills of Ramshila, Pretshila and Brahmayoni, while the Falgu river flows to its east, drawing large numbers of Indian and foreign tourists throughout the year.

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## What this means for you
- **Across India:** The growing youth mobilisation at Jantar Mantar signals rising pressure on the government to engage with protesters' demands, which could shape its approach in the coming days.
- **In Delhi:** Heavy crowds and tight police monitoring around Jantar Mantar mean residents and commuters passing through the area should expect extra checks and possible movement restrictions.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What did Arvind Kejriwal post on social media?
He wrote on X that lakhs of youths have gathered at Jantar Mantar and that the government is having them lathi-charged instead of listening, urging it to drop its ego and hear them out.

### 2. Since when has this protest been going on at Jantar Mantar?
The Cockroach Janta Party's sit-in has been running since early June, while Sonam Wangchuk has been on hunger strike since the last week of June.

### 3. Who is Sonam Wangchuk and what is he doing?
He is an activist on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, and reports said that by mid-July he had been fasting for roughly twenty days.

### 4. Did any other leader support the protesters?
Yes, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote an open letter to the protesting youths on July 15.

### 5. What was the situation at Jantar Mantar by July 19?
Reports described the crowd as spread across roughly a kilometre, with many protesters sleeping on the ground and Delhi Police keeping close watch.

## Leader Profile: Arvind Kejriwal
- **Role:** National Convener, Aam Aadmi Party
- **Born:** 16 August 1968, Siwani, Haryana
- **Party:** Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- **Education:** BTech, IIT Kharagpur

Founder and National Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party and former Chief Minister of Delhi. A former IRS officer, he won the Magsaysay Award for anti-corruption activism.

### Political Career & Achievements
- Indian Revenue Service officer (joined 1995)
- Ramon Magsaysay Award for activism (2006)
- Founded the Aam Aadmi Party (2012)
- Chief Minister of Delhi (2013–14, 2015–2024)
- Launched Mohalla Clinics and free utility schemes

### Quick Facts
- An IIT graduate and former tax officer turned anti-corruption activist.
- Volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity early in his career.


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