Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi detained after sit-in outside PM Modi's residence; released after few hours

New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several Opposition MPs were forcibly removed and detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday after staging a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding his resignation over the police action against protesting students.

The surprise dharna in the high-security zone prompted the government to send Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to persuade the leaders to end the protest. Their talks with Rahul Gandhi remained inconclusive.

Police moved in shortly afterwards, removing the leaders from the protest site. Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town, while Priyanka Gandhi and several Congress MPs were taken to Mandir Marg police station. Some other MPs were shifted to Kingsway Camp police station. All were released after a few hours. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited Priyanka and the detained MPs at the police station.

After his release, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition decided to protest outside the Prime Minister's residence after the government allegedly refused to allow a discussion in Parliament on the students' issue.
"The idea was to bring national attention to the issues faced by students, the way they were attacked by Delhi Police on Monday and their demands for justice," he said.

He said the students were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah, action against those responsible for the alleged assault, and the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also urged the government to allow a debate on the issue in both Houses of Parliament and called on Prime Minister Modi to apologise to students and introduce reforms in the examination system.

Dramatic scenes unfolded as police removed the protesters. Rahul Gandhi was seen resisting police personnel and later claimed he suffered minor injuries below his eye, near his nose, and on his hands and legs. In a post on X, he said: "Modiji, try every pressure, exert all your might. This fight for justice for students will not stop now."

Priyanka Gandhi was seen holding on to the door of a police bus even after it began moving.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of suppressing democratic protest and said the "arrogant rulers" would have to answer for the police action. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the incident as "dictatorship", while party leader Pawan Khera alleged that police had "brutally" removed Opposition leaders.

Jitendra Singh later said the government was willing to discuss NEET and related issues in Parliament, but accused Rahul Gandhi of shifting his demand from a parliamentary debate to seeking the resignation of the education minister.

The protest began around 3.30 pm and was joined by Congress MPs, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Akhilesh Yadav and NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule. The leaders also symbolically tied their hands to protest what they described as restrictions on democratic freedoms under the BJP-led Centre.

The demonstration followed Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi's visit to students who were allegedly injured during Monday's police action. Opposition leaders have accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against the student protesters and later against MPs during Tuesday's protest.