Arvind Kejriwal, the former Chief Minister of Delhi and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on July 21, to meet with student protesters injured during a march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest was linked to allegations of a leaked NEET-UG examination paper. During his visit, Kejriwal addressed the media, claiming that the Central government’s actions amounted to a “barbaric attack” on unarmed students.

Kejriwal’s visit took place after reports emerged that the protest had resulted in numerous injuries among students and police personnel alike. He confirmed that, according to hospital information, all but one injured girl had already been discharged. Kejriwal extended his prayers for her recovery and met with her family to offer support.

During his statements, Kejriwal indicated that many students were allegedly being held unlawfully by the police and outlined his party’s plan to address these detentions. He informed reporters that AAP aims to investigate the number of first information reports (FIRs) filed and the circumstances surrounding the alleged illegal detentions of students.

Demanding Public Accountability

Following his hospital visit, Kejriwal took to the social media platform X to announce that AAP leaders were at the Parliament Police complex, awaiting an audience with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). He emphasised the necessity for police to disclose key information regarding the FIRs associated with the protests and details surrounding the arrests.

Kejriwal stated that the police should publicly release a complete list of all FIRs filed related to the protests, as well as the names of detained students and the jails they are in. He reassured parents of the students that the party was committed to ensuring their safety, asserting, “You are ours. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

His call for transparency was part of a broader response to the previous day’s events, where he sharply criticised the government’s tactics against protesters, labelling them as overly aggressive and arrogant. The situation escalated as multiple opposition leaders expressed solidarity with the injured students.

Wider Implications and Opposition Response

In parallel to Kejriwal’s actions, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also voiced his concerns about the treatment of students by law enforcement. He argued that the students were subjected to violence for merely seeking answers regarding their futures. Gandhi called for a thorough discussion in the Monsoon Session of Parliament concerning the alleged mistreatment of students and the ongoing NEET examination paper leak crisis.

On the same day, AAP MPs conducted a protest outside Makar Dwar in Parliament, aligning themselves with a wider movement challenging the government’s response to the events tied to the NEET-UG paper leak. This protest coincided with Kejriwal’s visit and was part of heightened opposition discontent regarding the handling of such sensitive educational issues.

The backdrop to these developments was the earlier march led by CJP activists towards Parliament, which resulted in injuries to over 118 police personnel and more than 60 protesters according to Delhi Police reports. Members of the CJP previously met with Union Health Minister JP Nadda, advocating for several demands, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families of deceased NEET aspirants. The situation remains tense, as protests continue and activists, such as Abhijeet Dipke, have vowed to persist.

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