BJP’s Kapil Mishra, blamed for provocative speeches during 2020 riots, made minister in Delhi govt

Controversial BJP leader Kapil Mishra, known for his provocative speeches and tweets, has been appointed a minister in the newly formed Delhi government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Kapil Mishra, who was among those blamed by opposition parties for the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, is among six BJP leaders inducted into the cabinet.

Gave ultimatum to Delhi Police to clear protest sites

Mishra, a staunch Hindutva leader, secured victory from Karawal Nagar Assembly constituency by a margin of over 23,355 votes.

His appointment has sparked fresh debates, given his past remarks and involvement in controversial incidents. In 2020, he was criticised for an ultimatum to the Delhi Police, urging them to clear protest sites in Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh.

His statement had come just before the deadly communal riots that claimed over 50 lives and left hundreds injured. A group of lawyers had filed a police complaint against him for inciting violence through social media posts.

His history of communal rhetoric had previously drawn the Election Commission’s ire. In 2020, Twitter was asked to remove one of his tweets that described anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests as “mini-Pakistans” in Delhi, calling it “highly objectionable” and “appealing to communal sentiments”.

Political comeback and ministerial berth

Despite past controversies, Mishra’s political trajectory remained upward. After losing the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections from Model Town, he was given organisational responsibilities within the BJP and was appointed vice-president of the party’s Delhi unit in 2023.

His aggressive stance against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, particularly over the alleged Delhi Jal Board (DJB) scam, earned him a reputation as a vocal critic of Arvind Kejriwal.

From AAP minister to BJP hardliner

Mishra began his political career with AAP and served as a cabinet minister in the Kejriwal-led government after winning from Karawal Nagar in 2015. However, he was removed from his ministerial post following differences with Kejriwal.

In 2019, he joined the BJP and unsuccessfully contested the assembly polls before making a strong comeback in 2025.

Beyond electoral politics, Mishra has been actively involved in promoting Hindutva ideology. He is the founder of ‘Hindu Ecosystem,’ an online platform that mobilizes youth for causes like ‘gau raksha’ (cow protection), ‘ghar wapsi’ (reconversion to Hinduism), and campaigns against ‘love jihad.’

He has also led agitations against the Shaheen Bagh protests and initiated the controversial ‘desh ke gaddaron ko’ (traitors of the nation) chant at a pro-CAA rally.

TNR