A fresh political row has broken out in Delhi after Arvind Kejriwal accused security forces of using lathi charges and tear gas against students, triggering a sharp reaction from the Aam Aadmi Party leader on social media.
What Kejriwal wrote in his post
Posting on X, Arvind Kejriwal said the country's children were being baton-charged and hit with tear gas shells. He alleged that instead of fixing the education and examination system, the central government had chosen to directly attack the country's youth. In a pointed warning aimed at the Prime Minister, he wrote that youth will not tolerate Modi's arrogance at all. The line made clear that Kejriwal views the episode as more than an isolated law and order matter, framing it instead as the trigger for a larger political confrontation in the days ahead.
The protest and the security response
Reactions to Kejriwal's post point to the episode being linked to a large student demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where a big turnout of young protesters had gathered over their demands. Several social media users claimed that instead of engaging with the protesters, the administration chose to use force against them. Some of the reactions also named Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with users demanding accountability from him rather than action against students who were protesting peacefully.
Similar tear gas incidents elsewhere in the country
The episode comes amid a string of recent incidents in which police across India have had to resort to tear gas to control crowds. In Datia, Madhya Pradesh, police fired tear gas shells after supporters of Narottam Mishra caused a ruckus. Earlier, in Bihar, students vandalised property during a violent protest at Patliputra station, prompting police there to use tear gas as well. Separately, at Punjab's Kapurthala jail, a clash between inmates led to a wall being broken down and firing, forcing police to release tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. These incidents stemmed from different causes and circumstances, but together they point to a pattern of police forces repeatedly having to fall back on tear gas to manage crowds and unrest across several states in recent months.
Public reaction
Kejriwal's post drew a mixed response online. One section of users backed the protesting students and urged the government to hold talks and show restraint, while others questioned Kejriwal's own motives and past political record. A number of people also expressed sympathy for the protesting students and voiced frustration with how the administration handled the situation.
