Rahul Gandhi 'used to getting punched,' ready for more amid NEET-UG protest

NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he was ‘used to getting punched’ and was ready to ‘take many more’ while standing with students protesting over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demanding reforms in the education system. His remarks came a day after he, along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders was detained by Delhi Police during a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence over the issue. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Gandhi said standing up for students, farmers and young people was part of his responsibility as the Leader of the Opposition. Responding to a question about his detention and the police action during Tuesday's protest, Gandhi said, "It's fine. I'm used to getting punched and all. It's no problem. My job is to express the will of India's people, whether it is the will of the students, whether it is the will of young people, whether it is the will of the farmers. This is the job that I am supposed to do as leader of opposition." He added, "I am supposed to become an expression of the voice of India's people. I am supposed to bring attention to where pain is being felt. These are very small costs. These are not big costs. It's a huge honour for me to do this, to be able to stand with the wishes of my people. So couple of punches and all. This is not a problem at all. I'm happy to take many more." Replying to another question about what happened outside the Prime Minister's residence, Gandhi said, "My job is to express the will of India's people. Whether it is the will of the students, the young people, or the farmers, this is the job I am supposed to do as the Leader of the Opposition. I am supposed to become an an expression of the voice of India's people. I am supposed to bring attention to where pain is being felt. These are very small costs, not big ones. It is a huge honour for me to do this, to be able to stand with the wishes of my people. So a couple of punches and all, that is not a problem at all. I am happy to take many more." During the press conference, Gandhi reiterated his criticism of the Centre over the alleged examination irregularities, accusing the government of destroying India's education system and expressing full support for the protesting students. He said students were demanding a fair education system and backed their demand for the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Gandhi also demanded that those responsible for the alleged police action against students be held accountable and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to them. He claimed that 152 paper leaks had taken place over the past decade with 'zero convictions', alleged that 7.5 crore students and their families had been affected, and said the country's education system had become "rigged" and unaffordable. Rahul Gandhi's remarks came a day after he, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and several opposition leaders staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding a discussion on the alleged NEET paper leak, the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and action over the police crackdown on students. Delhi Police later removed and detained the leaders after the protest entered the high-security zone. Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium before being released a few hours later, while Priyanka Gandhi and some Congress MPs were taken to Mandir Marg police station and later released. The Congress also released videos and photographs showing Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi being removed by police during the protest. One video showed Rahul Gandhi lying on the road as police personnel attempted to carry him away, while another appeared to show him being dragged during the detention. The party also shared a photograph that appeared to show him with a nosebleed following the police action. The Congress has accused the government of suppressing protests over the alleged examination irregularities, while the Centre has said it was willing to discuss the issue in Parliament and criticised the opposition's protest outside the PM Modi's residence.