New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday during a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. The Congress leaders were demanding accountability regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
While being detained, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated, “They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them. They are scared of us.”
Police attempted to forcibly remove Rahul Gandhi from the protest site, seen carrying him to a bus. Several Congress leaders and workers were also detained as police dispersed demonstrators who had marched from Rajaji Marg to Lok Kalyan Marg, following allegations of police brutality against students protesting the paper leak the previous day.
Speaking to ANI from inside a police van after being detained, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala remarked that the protest signified the start of a larger movement against the government. He stated, “This is not the end; it marks the beginning of a new revolution under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. They may imprison us, lathi-charge us, or mistreat us, but Modi ji will have to answer to the millions of sons and daughters of India who have lost their future and seen the hopes of their families extinguished due to paper leaks. This revolution will now blaze into a mighty inferno; under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, it will not be stopped.”
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed regret over the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, stating, “It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were detained. We are all fighting for the cause of the students of this country. We want justice. We want this to be discussed in Parliament… More than 100 MPs are here. No one is afraid of being arrested… This movement will continue till justice is given.”
The detentions occurred shortly after Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh accused Rahul Gandhi of reneging on agreements made during discussions near the protest site. Singh claimed that he, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, was assigned by the government to engage with Congress leadership after they began their sit-in protest near Akbar Road.
According to Singh, Rahul Gandhi initially agreed to end the protest if the government accepted the demand for a discussion in Parliament regarding the NEET issue and the ongoing student movement. However, he alleged that Gandhi later added another condition, insisting on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Singh further claimed that Gandhi refused to vacate the protest site despite being informed that it was not designated for protests. He accused the Congress leader of acting contrary to democratic norms and noted that while the government was prepared to discuss all NEET-related issues in Parliament, the Congress had not submitted any formal notice seeking such a debate under parliamentary rules.
The Congress protest followed a day of heightened political confrontation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and police actions against unarmed student protesters. Parliament experienced repeated disruptions as Opposition parties sought a discussion on the issue, with Congress asserting that the Centre must take responsibility for the examination controversy and the alleged police excesses against students.
