Opposition Leaders Detained During Protest Over Student Action, Exam Irregularities

Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were among several Opposition leaders detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday after they staged a dharna near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding accountability over alleged police action against students and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The leaders were later released and were seen leaving the Chhatrasal Stadium.

Several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also joined the march towards the protest site.

The protest was held in support of the ongoing agitation by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is seeking Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET controversy.

Ahead of the protest, Gandhi appealed to people to join the dharna, saying "an attack on students is an attack on every Indian family" and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to answer questions over the issue.

About 20 minutes into the protest, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh, accompanied by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, met Gandhi and urged him to call off the dharna, saying the site was not designated for protests.

According to Singh, Gandhi initially said he would end the protest if the government agreed to discuss issues related to NEET and the ongoing students' agitation in Parliament. Singh later alleged that after the government conveyed its willingness to hold such a discussion, Gandhi added a fresh demand seeking Pradhan's resignation and refused to withdraw the protest.

Police later removed Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Yadav and several other Opposition leaders from the protest site. Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi, K. Suresh and Kanhaiya Kumar were also detained.

The protest came a day after Delhi Police used tear gas and carried out a lathi-charge to stop thousands of students and supporters of the CJP marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament to demand Pradhan's resignation over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET controversy.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited students admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after they were injured during Monday's police action. They also met the mother of an injured protester who remains on ventilator support, according to PTI.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke continued to lead the protest from Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, reiterating that the agitation would continue, Dipke said CJP supporters would not undertake another march towards Parliament to avoid further injuries.

Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk has said he intends to continue his indefinite hunger strike until youth representatives are allowed to meet Members of Parliament or he is permitted to continue the protest from the hospital.

Speaking after his detention, Rahul Gandhi said he had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urged that Parliament be allowed to debate the police action against students and the broader issues surrounding alleged examination irregularities.

Gandhi said the Speaker had told him he would need the government's approval to allow such a discussion, but claimed it later became clear that the government was "not interested" in holding a debate. He said the entire Opposition wanted both Houses of Parliament to discuss the issue of students and their demands.

Raising questions over the education system, Gandhi asked why examination papers were repeatedly leaking and why education had become increasingly expensive for families. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students over the police action during Monday's protest.