A major political confrontation unfolded in New Delhi on Tuesday after Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Opposition MPs staged a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. During the demonstration, Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders, leading to sharp political reactions across the country.
According to reports, the Congress-led protest was organized to demand accountability over the recent police action against protesters associated with the CJP movement, which has been raising concerns over alleged examination irregularities and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Opposition leaders accused the Centre of remaining silent over the police action and sought a response from the Prime Minister.
The protest began with Opposition MPs marching towards the Prime Minister's residence, carrying placards and raising slogans against the government. Security was tightened around Lok Kalyan Marg, where a heavy deployment of Delhi Police and other security personnel had already been put in place due to prohibitory restrictions in the area.
As the protesters attempted to continue their sit-in near the high-security zone, police intervened and began removing the demonstrators. Videos circulating on social media showed Rahul Gandhi and several Congress leaders being escorted away by police personnel. Congress leaders alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were forcibly removed from the protest site during the operation.
Congress claimed that the detention was an attempt to suppress democratic protest and accused the government of preventing the Opposition from peacefully expressing its views. Party spokespersons said elected representatives were stopped from raising issues concerning students and demanded an explanation for the police action.
During the protest, Union Minister Jitendra Singh reached the site and held discussions with Rahul Gandhi in an effort to persuade the demonstrators to end the sit-in. However, the talks did not lead to a resolution, and the protest continued until police detained the leaders.
According to Congress sources cited by multiple reports, Rahul Gandhi was later taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi was taken to Mandir Marg Police Station following the detention. Several other Opposition MPs and party workers were also taken into preventive custody.
The incident triggered strong reactions from Opposition parties. Congress leaders described the action as "undemocratic" and announced that they would continue raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament. Leaders from several Opposition parties also criticized the police action and expressed solidarity with those detained.
The Delhi Police has not announced any criminal charges against Rahul Gandhi in connection with the protest. The detentions were reported as part of preventive action after demonstrators entered a high-security zone near the Prime Minister's residence, where public gatherings are subject to strict security restrictions.
The developments have intensified the political atmosphere in the national capital, with the Congress accusing the government of curbing democratic dissent, while the government maintains that security protocols around the Prime Minister's residence must be enforced. The issue is expected to remain a major point of political debate in the coming days.