Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav Detained in Protest Outside PM Modi’s House

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Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday during a high-profile opposition protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, as political tensions escalated over the police action against students protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, joined the demonstration at Lok Kalyan Marg, where the party demanded accountability from the Centre over the treatment of protesting students and renewed its call for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest began around 3.30 pm, with Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders staging a sit-in near the Prime Minister’s residence. The demonstration followed a day of clashes between police and protesters during a march towards Parliament over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination-related concerns.

The situation changed rapidly when Delhi Police moved to remove the protesting leaders. Visuals from the scene showed Rahul Gandhi lying on the ground as security personnel attempted to take him away. The Congress leader appeared to resist the detention and was reportedly hurt during the process.

The detention of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Akhilesh Yadav added a new political dimension to an already heated confrontation between the government and opposition parties.

Congress leaders immediately condemned the action, with the party describing the detentions as evidence of what it called “Modi’s dictatorship”. Party leaders said the protest would continue and accused the government of avoiding accountability over the police action against students.

Congress MP Pawan Khera said the party had no intention of backing down and would continue pressing for justice for students. He said the Congress leadership had decided to remain firm on the issue and questioned the government’s response to the concerns raised by young protesters.

The protest also drew support from senior opposition leaders outside the Congress. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and party MP Supriya Sule joined the sit-in, while Akhilesh Yadav later joined Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders before police detained them.

The arrival of chief ministers from opposition-ruled states further raised the political stakes. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar joined the Congress demonstration and criticised the treatment of students during Monday’s protest.

Congress leaders said the issue went beyond party politics and concerned the future of millions of students preparing for competitive examinations.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited injured protesters at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress leader later demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students over the police action, accusing the Centre of failing to address concerns about the education and examination system.

In a social media post, Rahul Gandhi said the treatment of students represented an attack on young people and their families. Congress leaders argued that students who had spent years preparing for competitive examinations deserved transparent and fair investigations into allegations surrounding the NEET-UG examination.

The opposition has also demanded a detailed discussion in Parliament on the alleged police brutality and has called for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to be present during the debate.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party had been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for several weeks. He said the Opposition had already raised the matter in both Houses of Parliament and wanted the government to answer questions concerning the alleged treatment of protesting students.

The developments came a day after Delhi witnessed intense clashes during the Cockroach Janta Party’s Parliament march over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The organisation has continued its protest at Jantar Mantar and has accused the government of failing to respond to its principal demands.

The CJP has demanded action over the alleged examination irregularities and has continued to press for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Its leaders have also accused the police of using excessive force during Monday’s confrontation.

The organisation rejected Union Health Minister JP Nadda’s description of talks with protesters as cordial and constructive. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed that the discussions failed to produce any concrete outcome and said the government had not addressed the organisation’s main demands.

Ranka said Nadda had indicated that he would speak to senior government leaders and return with a response, but protesters had not received any follow-up. He suggested that if the government wanted further discussions, its representatives should visit Jantar Mantar.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also criticised the government over the talks, alleging that the protesters’ delegation had been made to spend time in discussions while police action was taking place against demonstrators.

“The government wasted our time,” Dipke said, alleging that members of the delegation faced restrictions during their interaction with the government.

The organisation has meanwhile announced that it would continue its protest. CJP spokesperson Sourav Das said protesters planned to march towards the Delhi Police headquarters if those detained during the agitation were not released by 8 pm.

The events of Monday and Tuesday have created a wider political confrontation around the NEET-UG controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of suppressing student voices and the police defending their conduct during the clashes.

Delhi Police has maintained that officers used force to prevent protesters from breaking security barricades and to control situations that could have resulted in serious injuries or stampede-like conditions.

According to the police, more than 118 personnel, including senior officers and women police personnel, suffered injuries during Monday’s protest. Police officials also said around 60 protesters were injured in the clashes.

At least five FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident, according to police. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify people allegedly involved in violence during the protest. Police have indicated that additional cases could follow.

Protest organisers, however, have disputed the police account and alleged that officers used excessive force against demonstrators. CJP representatives claimed that protesters were beaten, dragged and injured during the confrontation.

The organisation has also raised concerns about the condition of injured protesters. A young woman reportedly remained in critical condition at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, according to sources cited in reports.

The political response has continued to grow. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal visited injured protesters at RML Hospital and announced legal and medical assistance for students affected by the police action.

Kejriwal also wrote to the New Delhi deputy commissioner of police, seeking public disclosure of FIRs registered in connection with Monday’s protest and details of people detained by the authorities.

AAP leaders have accused the government of failing to address student concerns, while other opposition leaders have also demanded greater transparency over the arrests and police action.

In Parliament, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh sought a discussion on the NEET paper leak allegations, the police action against protesters and the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk. Aazad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad also protested inside the Parliament complex, demanding action against the Education Minister.

RJD leader Manoj Jha accused the government of refusing to engage meaningfully with students, while farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the Centre was ignoring the concerns of young people.

The controversy has also drawn support from public figures. Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh expressed solidarity with students protesting over alleged NEET irregularities and urged authorities to focus on their concerns.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that he would not celebrate his birthday, citing what he described as the government’s response to a peaceful democratic protest.

Kharge accused the authorities of responding to students with lathi charges and tear gas instead of addressing their demands. He also renewed the Congress demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

The confrontation has also brought renewed attention to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged examination irregularities.

Wangchuk was undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors said his vital parameters remained stable but warned of continuing medical risks linked to his prolonged fast. The Delhi High Court later allowed him to be shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after considering a plea filed by his wife, Gitanjali Angmo.

The developments surrounding Wangchuk have added another layer to the broader debate over examination reforms and the government’s handling of protests.

The Resident Doctors’ Association of AIIMS Delhi also called for an independent inquiry into the events at Jantar Mantar and raised concerns about reports concerning Wangchuk’s hospitalisation.

At the same time, the legal battle over Monday’s police action has begun. A public interest litigation filed before the Delhi High Court has sought an independent, court-monitored investigation into the alleged excessive use of force.

The petition reportedly seeks the preservation of electronic evidence, identification of police personnel allegedly responsible for misconduct and compensation for people injured during the protest. The matter is expected to come up for consideration by the court.

The Centre, meanwhile, has sought to maintain that the NEET-UG paper leak issue should not be treated as a political matter. At an NDA parliamentary party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly called for strong action against those accused in the paper leak case and emphasised the need to prosecute the guilty.

Yet the political confrontation shows little sign of easing.

For the Congress and other opposition parties, the dispute is now about more than the examination controversy itself. They are seeking answers over the treatment of students, demanding accountability from the government and using the issue to challenge the Centre inside and outside Parliament.

For the protesting students and organisations, the focus remains on alleged irregularities in the examination system and what they describe as the government’s failure to provide satisfactory answers.

The detention of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav has now pushed the issue further into the centre of national politics. With Congress leaders vowing to continue their campaign, CJP maintaining its protest at Jantar Mantar and legal challenges emerging over Monday’s police action, the confrontation between protesters, opposition parties and the government is likely to remain a major political flashpoint in the days ahead.