Student Protest Or Political Campaign? Govt Sources Flag Role Of AAP, SP In Delhi Agitation | Exclusive

Last Updated:July 22, 2026, 14:43 IST

Sources also said agencies are alert to the possibility of external funding flowing into domestic agitations, warning that peaceful protests can be exploited by organised networks

As student protests over NEET paper leak continue to disrupt Parliament and spill onto the streets of the national capital, government sources have claimed that what began as student-led demonstrations has increasingly become a politically backed mobilisation, with major opposition parties playing a central organisational role.

According to the sources, political parties are no longer limiting themselves to expressing solidarity. Instead, they are providing logistical, organisational and parliamentary support, transforming protest sites into platforms for wider political campaigns against the Centre.

AAP’s Role In Delhi

Government sources claim the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has leveraged its organisational network in the national capital to strengthen the protests. Through its local units, MLAs and student wing, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the party is said to have actively participated in demonstrations at hubs such as Jantar Mantar and outside coaching centres.

The sources allege that AAP has used its strong local presence to channel student anger over issues such as examination irregularities, paper leaks and safety concerns into political pressure on the Union government.

SP’s Support Beyond Delhi

The Samajwadi Party (SP), meanwhile, is said to be providing support from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

According to government sources, SP MPs have organised marches from Parliament to protest venues and repeatedly raised the issue in both Houses, leading to disruptions during the Monsoon Session.

The objective, the sources claim, is to expand the agitation beyond Delhi and build a broader youth movement across North India rather than keeping the focus limited to examination-related grievances.

Political Infrastructure At Protest Sites

Government sources further allege that major political parties have been supplying infrastructure for the protests, including sound systems, banners, legal assistance and media outreach.

Student wings such as AAP’s CYSS and the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha have also been cited by the sources as providing on-ground logistical support, including stage management and crowd mobilisation.

According to the sources, this has transformed student gatherings into political platforms, similar to what was witnessed during the 2024 NEET and UGC-NET protests at Jantar Mantar.

A Familiar Political Pattern?

The sources also pointed to the July 2024 protests following the deaths of UPSC aspirants in a flooded coaching centre basement in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar. While the agitation initially centred on student safety and civic accountability, it eventually evolved into a political confrontation between the AAP government and the BJP over municipal governance.

Government sources argue that a similar pattern is unfolding now, with core student demands being expanded into a larger political campaign targeting the Centre.

Concerns Over Organised Mobilisation

According to the sources, many of the individuals managing the protest stages and coordinating crowds are office-bearers of established political parties rather than representatives of independent student organisations.

The government is also monitoring what it describes as organised mobilisation from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, including the movement of certain minority groups and coordinated support on social media.

Sources further claimed that agencies remain alert to the possibility of external funding flowing into domestic agitations, warning that peaceful demonstrations can sometimes be exploited by organised networks to trigger wider civil unrest.

The Opposition has rejected similar allegations in the past, maintaining that its leaders are extending support to genuine student concerns and exercising their democratic right to protest. Student groups have also insisted that the movement is driven by demands for accountability over examination irregularities and not by political parties.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations and Security Affairs, Network18

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