Congress Protest LIVE Updates: Rahul, Priyanka Detained; Sonia Gandhi Reaches Police Station

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Delhi’s political tensions escalated sharply on Tuesday as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by the Delhi Police during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, while Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi reached Mandir Marg police station as the opposition stepped up its attack on the Centre.

The detention came after Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, joined other senior Congress leaders in a sit-in protest against the police action taken against students during the previous day’s demonstration. The protest, which began at around 3.30 pm, quickly turned into a confrontation when police personnel moved in to clear the area.

Rahul Gandhi was seen resisting as security personnel attempted to remove him from the protest site. Visuals from the scene showed the Congress leader lying on the ground while police personnel tried to take him away. He appeared to sustain an injury during the process.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also detained, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was among the opposition leaders caught up in the police action. The developments added another layer to an already intensifying political confrontation over the treatment of protesting students and the government’s response to the broader controversy surrounding the NEET-UG examination.

The latest action followed a tense day in Delhi, where opposition parties and student protesters had clashed with authorities during a march towards Parliament. The confrontation has since widened into a larger political battle, with the opposition accusing the government of suppressing peaceful dissent and the Centre defending its handling of the protests.

The Congress protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence was intended to highlight what the party described as excessive police action against students. Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders sought to put the issue at the centre of the political debate by staging a sit-in and demanding accountability for the treatment of demonstrators.

The protest also brought together leaders from different opposition parties, reflecting the wider political significance of the issue. The participation of senior leaders from Congress and regional parties signalled that the controversy was no longer confined to student groups or the streets of Delhi.

As police personnel moved to disperse the protesters, the situation became increasingly tense. The detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra immediately became a major political flashpoint, with Congress leaders questioning the manner in which the opposition leaders were removed from the protest site.

The arrival of Sonia Gandhi at Mandir Marg police station further underscored the seriousness of the confrontation. Her presence came as the Congress leadership rallied around Rahul Gandhi and other detained leaders, turning the police action into a larger political issue.

The events unfolded against the backdrop of Monday’s dramatic protest, when the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, attempted to march towards Parliament over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and other demands. Police used force to stop the march, leading to clashes and injuries among protesters.

The aftermath of Monday’s confrontation remained politically charged on Tuesday. Several protesters who suffered injuries were reportedly discharged from hospitals, while security was tightened around key locations in the national capital.

The protests have also triggered a series of political exchanges between the Centre, opposition parties and protest organisers. While the government has maintained that it is willing to engage with protesters, the CJP has rejected that account and accused the authorities of failing to address its core demands.

The disagreement has become particularly sharp over the government’s talks with protest representatives. Union Health Minister JP Nadda had described the discussions with the protesters as cordial and constructive. However, CJP representatives disputed that description and said the meeting failed to produce any meaningful outcome.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, who participated in the delegation that met Nadda during Monday’s protest, described the discussions as “useless” and accused the minister of presenting a misleading account of the meeting.

According to Ranka, Nadda had told the delegation that he would speak to the senior leadership and return with a response. However, the protesters said they had not received any communication from the government since the meeting.

Ranka also indicated that the protest leadership wanted the government to engage directly with demonstrators at Jantar Mantar if it genuinely intended to continue negotiations.

The dispute over the talks has become central to the continuing confrontation. The government appears to be emphasising dialogue, while protest leaders argue that dialogue has little meaning unless it leads to concrete action on their demands.

At the heart of the CJP’s agitation is the demand for accountability over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The protesters have also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding the government responsible for what they describe as serious failures in the examination system.

The issue has generated considerable political pressure because NEET-UG affects millions of students seeking admission to medical colleges across India. Allegations surrounding examination irregularities have therefore become a major national issue, with students and opposition parties demanding greater transparency and accountability.

For the opposition, the controversy offers an opportunity to challenge the government’s handling of the education system and its response to student concerns. For the government, however, the protests represent a broader law-and-order challenge that must be managed while maintaining its position that legitimate grievances can be addressed through institutional channels.

The detention of Rahul Gandhi has now brought the issue directly into the centre of national politics. As Leader of Opposition, his participation in the protest gave the demonstration additional visibility and political weight.

The Congress is likely to use the detention to intensify its criticism of the Centre, particularly over the manner in which the police handled the protest. The party has repeatedly argued that students raising concerns about examination irregularities should not face aggressive police action.

The government’s response, meanwhile, is expected to focus on maintaining law and order and preventing protesters from entering restricted areas. The contrasting positions are likely to keep the political temperature high in Delhi in the days ahead.

The developments also highlight the growing overlap between student-led protests and opposition politics. While the original agitation centred on concerns over the NEET-UG examination, the police response has expanded the debate to questions of civil liberties, the right to protest and the government’s approach to dissent.

Monday’s clashes at Jantar Mantar and Tuesday’s detention of senior opposition leaders have therefore transformed the controversy into a wider political confrontation. The issue is no longer limited to the examination controversy itself; it now encompasses the conduct of the police, the government’s willingness to negotiate and the opposition’s strategy to challenge the Centre.

The CJP has made clear that it intends to continue its agitation at Jantar Mantar. Its demand for the removal of Dharmendra Pradhan from office remains a central point of the protest, while its representatives continue to accuse the government of failing to respond to their concerns.

The government, on the other hand, faces pressure to prevent further escalation while addressing the concerns raised by students and protesters. Any fresh confrontation could deepen the political divide and trigger additional protests in the national capital.

For Congress, Rahul Gandhi’s detention has provided another opportunity to question the Centre’s approach to opposition protests. The presence of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Akhilesh Yadav has also highlighted the wider opposition participation in the ongoing dispute.

With Sonia Gandhi reaching the police station and senior opposition leaders being detained, Tuesday’s events marked a significant escalation in the political battle surrounding the protests.

The immediate focus now remains on the fate of the detained leaders, the government’s response to the continuing agitation and whether negotiations with protest representatives will resume. At the same time, the demand for accountability over the NEET-UG controversy continues to drive the protests.

As the opposition prepares to intensify its political campaign and the protesters maintain their presence at Jantar Mantar, the confrontation shows little sign of ending soon. The coming days could determine whether the government and protest leaders find a path back to dialogue or whether the dispute develops into a prolonged political standoff in the national capital.