Saurabh Mukherjee
A protest by opposition leaders outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi escalated on Tuesday (July 21) as Delhi Police detained and forcibly removed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other leaders after they refused to vacate the site.
The demonstration was organised to protest the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party's march towards Parliament on Monday. The protesters also raised the issue of the alleged NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav were among those taken away by the police. Dramatic visuals from the scene showed Congress leaders holding on to one another as police personnel attempted to disperse them, with officers seen pulling Gandhi by his legs during the operation.
While being detained by Delhi Police, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them. They are scared of us."
Police personnel were also seen attempting to remove Rahul Gandhi from the protest site and carrying him towards a waiting bus. Several Congress leaders and party workers were detained as the police cleared the area.
The confrontation followed a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh during the protest near Lok Kalyan Marg.
Singh later accused the Congress leader of reneging on an assurance and described his conduct as "unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy".
In a post on X, Singh said Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had suddenly begun a sit-in near Akbar Road along with their supporters.
Singh said the government had deputed him and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to engage with the Congress leaders, taking into account their seniority.
According to Singh, he asked Rahul Gandhi to call off the demonstration, pointing out that the location was not designated for protests and that the gathering was inconveniencing the public.
Singh claimed that Gandhi initially sought an assurance that Parliament would discuss all matters concerning NEET and the related protests, and said he would end the demonstration if the government accepted the demand.
"Within a few moments, after taking permission from the government's top leadership, Shri Rahul Gandhi was assured that his demand has been accepted, and the government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement," the Union Minister said.
However, Singh alleged that Gandhi subsequently raised an additional demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"When this information was conveyed to Shri Rahul Gandhi, he said that he would not agree to this alone but also sought assurance for the resignation of the Union Education Minister," he added.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi had attacked the Prime Minister over the police response to protesters who attempted to march towards Parliament. Calling on citizens to join the Congress demonstration, he urged those seeking justice for students to participate in the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence.
"An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family. PM Modi believes he can get away without answers, without consequences. He cannot. Not this time. I appeal to every patriotic Indian who believes our students deserve justice - join us in dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence. The voice of India's students will not be ignored," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
The detention of the opposition leaders is likely to further intensify the political confrontation over the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, with the opposition seeking to keep the alleged paper leak and the government's handling of student protests at the centre of the ongoing parliamentary session.
The demonstration was organised to protest the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party's march towards Parliament on Monday. The protesters also raised the issue of the alleged NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav were among those taken away by the police. Dramatic visuals from the scene showed Congress leaders holding on to one another as police personnel attempted to disperse them, with officers seen pulling Gandhi by his legs during the operation.
While being detained by Delhi Police, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them. They are scared of us."
Police personnel were also seen attempting to remove Rahul Gandhi from the protest site and carrying him towards a waiting bus. Several Congress leaders and party workers were detained as the police cleared the area.
The confrontation followed a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh during the protest near Lok Kalyan Marg.
Singh later accused the Congress leader of reneging on an assurance and described his conduct as "unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy".
In a post on X, Singh said Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had suddenly begun a sit-in near Akbar Road along with their supporters.
Singh said the government had deputed him and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to engage with the Congress leaders, taking into account their seniority.
According to Singh, he asked Rahul Gandhi to call off the demonstration, pointing out that the location was not designated for protests and that the gathering was inconveniencing the public.
Singh claimed that Gandhi initially sought an assurance that Parliament would discuss all matters concerning NEET and the related protests, and said he would end the demonstration if the government accepted the demand.
"Within a few moments, after taking permission from the government's top leadership, Shri Rahul Gandhi was assured that his demand has been accepted, and the government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement," the Union Minister said.
However, Singh alleged that Gandhi subsequently raised an additional demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"When this information was conveyed to Shri Rahul Gandhi, he said that he would not agree to this alone but also sought assurance for the resignation of the Union Education Minister," he added.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi had attacked the Prime Minister over the police response to protesters who attempted to march towards Parliament. Calling on citizens to join the Congress demonstration, he urged those seeking justice for students to participate in the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence.
"An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family. PM Modi believes he can get away without answers, without consequences. He cannot. Not this time. I appeal to every patriotic Indian who believes our students deserve justice - join us in dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence. The voice of India's students will not be ignored," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
छात्रों पर हमला हर भारतीय परिवार पर हमला है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2026
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को लगता है कि वो बिना जवाब दिए, बिना किसी नतीजे का सामना किए बच निकलेंगे - नहीं कर पाएंगे, इस बार तो बिल्कुल नहीं।
मैं हर उस देशभक्त भारतीय से अपील करता हूं जो मानता है कि हमारे छात्रों को न्याय मिलना चाहिए -…
The detention of the opposition leaders is likely to further intensify the political confrontation over the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, with the opposition seeking to keep the alleged paper leak and the government's handling of student protests at the centre of the ongoing parliamentary session.
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