<p>Self-styled Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj on Friday clarified his alleged claim of <strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/delhi-protest-cjp-supporters-demand-action-against-hindutva-influencer-swatantra-bhardwaj-over-alleged-assault-23648339" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">assaulting the father of CJP activist</a></strong> Nishu Azad during a protest at Jantar Mantar, saying the incident was an act of &ldquo;self-defence&rdquo;, news agency ANI reported.</p>
<p>Bharadwaj said what was being described as an attack was an act of self-defence and claimed he could have been lynched or killed if he had not acted.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Swatantra Bharadwaj says he was surrounded by 10-15 people</h2>
<p>His clarification came after a podcast clip surfaced on social media in which he appeared to claim that he had &ldquo;cracked the skull&rdquo; of Nishu&rsquo;s father and avoided arrest despite the alleged assault.</p>
<p>Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said, &ldquo;What people are calling an attack was an act of self-defence. If I had not acted in self-defence, I could have been lynched by the mob or killed. There was no attempt to attack him. I have proof in the form of video. I was gheraoed by 10-15 people. When I acted in self-defence, he was hit on the head. As per his medical report from Delhi Police, he did not suffer major injuries. I am cooperating with the ongoing investigation.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Rejects podcast clip as fake</h2>
<p>Bharadwaj also rejected the authenticity of the podcast clip being circulated on social media, alleging that it was fake.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The podcast clip that is being shared on social media by Rahul Gandhi and others is fake. Those saying that I was released because of influence from Kapil Mishra, I want to tell them that Kapil Mishra and Chirag Paswan are like my brothers. People should understand what was said in sarcasm,&rdquo; he said.</p>
<h2>CJP protests, demands legal action</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, the <strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/cjp-september-5-protest-called-off-after-centres-assurance-to-withdraw-cases-against-students-23647798" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) </a></strong>has launched a protest in the national capital, demanding legal action against Bharadwaj.</p>
<p>The protest comes amid a row over the alleged assault of Nishu Azad&rsquo;s father during the Jantar Mantar demonstration.</p>
<h2>Kejriwal shares video, questions alleged protection</h2>
<p>Earlier, <strong><a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-elections-2026-aap-releases-40-star-campaigners-list-arvind-kejriwali-bhagwant-mann-and-sanjay-singh-among-others-to-visit-mumbai-23609031" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal</a></strong> also shared a video related to the Jantar Mantar protest posted by CJP on its X handle and questioned the alleged protection provided to Bharadwaj.</p>
<p>According to the video, Bharadwaj allegedly claimed to have attacked people during the demonstration.</p>
<p>Questioning the alleged protection, Kejriwal asked whether freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh had sacrificed their lives for a country where a Prime Minister would &ldquo;openly protect such thugs&rdquo;.</p>
<p>In a post on X while sharing the video, Kejriwal wrote, &ldquo;You absolutely must watch this video. Your blood will boil. Did heroes like Bhagat Singh sacrifice their lives for this, that one day the country would get a prime minister who would openly protect such thugs?&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>(With ANI inputs)</strong></p>

CJP Delhi protest: Swatantra Bharadwaj has claimed self-defence in the Jantar Mantar assault row, saying he was surrounded by 10-15 people during protests

CJP Delhi protest: Swatantra Bharadwaj claims Jantar Mantar assault was ‘self-defence’

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Bharadwaj said what was being described as an attack was an act of self-defence and claimed he could have been lynched or killed if he had not acted

CJP Delhi protest: 'Attack was an act of self-defence', says influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj

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Home / News / India News / Article / CJP Delhi protest: 'Attack was an act of self-defence', says influencer Swatantra Bharadwaj