New Delhi, October 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the government of using excessive police force to suppress a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
In a video posted on social media, Kejriwal alleged that the police action had crossed all limits and warned that it could lead to demands for the resignation of both Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Prime Minister Modi.
Accusing the Prime Minister of allowing a crackdown in the national capital, Kejriwal said Modi's threats would no longer intimidate people. He claimed that the country's youth had become politically aware and had overcome their fear.
Kejriwal alleged that police personnel had mistreated young women, lawyers and journalists during Saturday's action. He said videos of the alleged incidents were circulating widely and accused the authorities of using excessive force against protesters.
Kejriwal alleges mistreatment of lawyers
The AAP leader claimed that lawyers were also targeted during the police action. He alleged that a senior Supreme Court lawyer was dragged along the road by the police and that other lawyers were beaten, detained and mistreated.
Kejriwal said such treatment of members of the legal profession was unprecedented and alleged that governments responsible for such conduct had historically faced political consequences.
He accused the Modi government of undermining democratic freedoms and said the developments raised serious concerns about the state of civil liberties in the country.
Allegations of curbs on media freedom
Kejriwal also alleged that the government was creating an atmosphere in which even media organisations and their owners could not feel secure.
He claimed that Atul Agrawal, editor-in-chief of the Hindi Khabar and Living India group, had been arrested by the Haryana Police at the behest of the Prime Minister because the channel had recently been reporting on the alleged expansion of the illegal drug trade in Haryana.
Describing the alleged action as shameful, Kejriwal accused the government of undermining democratic institutions and press freedom.
The allegations were made by Kejriwal in his social media video. The account provided by the AAP leader did not include a response from the Prime Minister's Office or the police to the accusations.
