The protest saw a confrontation between the Congress-led opposition and authorities, with talks held between Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Jitendra Singh failing to resolve key demands raised by the protesters.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 21: Delhi Police on Tuesday evening forcibly removed Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition figures, from their protest site outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
The removal took place around 6:40 pm. Sources indicated that Rahul Gandhi had planned to continue the dharna overnight. Before being taken away, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha posted an appeal on social media urging people to join the protest.
“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 ask 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 wrote.
Congress workers and leaders, led by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Gandhi siblings, had gathered at Kharge’s residence at 10, Rajaji Marg, in the afternoon and marched the short distance to the Prime Minister’s residence. The protest was aimed at seeking accountability for the previous day’s police action against protesters during a CJP (Cockroach Janta Party)-led march to Parliament.
🚨 BREAKING | New Delhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were detained by Delhi Police during an Opposition protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi.#RahulGandhi #AkhileshYadav #Delhi #DelhiPolice #India pic.twitter.com/mYZSSf3eXP
— WarPolitics (@TheWarPolitics0) July 21, 2026
In that Monday march, mostly students and young people faced lathicharge and tear gas. The CJP alleged that several protesters were injured and left bleeding. Delhi Police countered that protesters displayed “unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour”, attacked personnel with stones, vandalised vehicles and caused large-scale violence, resulting in injuries to 118 police personnel, including senior officers.
Rahul Gandhi escalated demands beyond the CJP’s call for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. He demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the government of failing to take accountability for alleged brutalities against students.
Talks with Union Minister Jitendra Singh
In an unusual development, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh visited the protest site about an hour after it began and held talks with Rahul Gandhi. The conversation lasted several minutes and was recorded by someone present.
Congress leaders described the talks as inconclusive. They said the government wanted them to withdraw the protest, but their core demands — a discussion in Parliament on NEET and other paper leaks, plus the resignation of the Education Minister — were not met.
Singh later posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Rahul Gandhi had initially agreed to call off the protest if the government assured a discussion on all issues related to NEET and paper leaks in Parliament. According to Singh, when reminded of his earlier position, Rahul Gandhi changed his stance and added the demand for the Education Minister’s resignation.
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain stated that more MPs, workers and common people would join the protest.
Soon after Singh’s post, police detained several Congress workers and at least one MP.
READ: Rahul Gandhi Leads Congress Protest Outside PM Modi’s Residence
Akhilesh Yadav and Others Join
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and senior NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule joined the protest later in the evening. Police action to clear the site affected the main group of leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav.
The AAP, however, distanced itself, alleging that the Congress protest was being instigated by the BJP to divert attention from the CJP agitation.
Parliament Context
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on Monday, has seen early adjournments on both days. Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, complained that they were not allowed to raise the issue of alleged police brutality against students or the paper leak matter. Kharge said the Opposition sought time to speak, but microphones were switched off after just one word.
Kharge questioned: “If, in a democracy, you do not want a debate and do not want to listen to the Opposition, then where should we go?”
Prime Minister Modi, during an NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, called on partners to remain united and appealed to opposition parties to work constructively, stating that all MPs share responsibility for the country’s future and the welfare of its youth. He also described preventing paper leaks as a national responsibility.
The Delhi Police cited security concerns around the Prime Minister’s residence, while Congress leaders maintained that the protest was peaceful. The BJP accused the Congress of endangering the PM’s security.
The incident has further heightened political tensions in the capital over the handling of student protests and demands for accountability on examination irregularities.
