NEET Protest – Opposition Leaders Detained After Demonstration Near PM Residence

NEET Protest –Political tensions intensified in the national capital on Tuesday evening after several senior Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by Delhi Police while leading a protest over the alleged NEET examination paper leak and the reported police action against students demonstrating on the issue.

The protest took place near the Lok Kalyan Marg area, close to the Prime Minister’s residence, where Congress MPs and leaders staged a sit-in demanding immediate action from the Centre. The party also called for a detailed discussion in Parliament, alleging serious irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance examination and expressing concern over the treatment of protesting students. Congress further demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Protest Gains Momentum With Opposition Support

The demonstration drew additional attention when Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav arrived at the venue around 6 pm to extend support to the Congress. His arrival added to the growing gathering of Opposition lawmakers and supporters, increasing political pressure outside the high-security zone.

As the crowd expanded, Delhi Police personnel, assisted by members of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), began efforts to disperse the protesters and restore normal movement in the area. The operation led to tense moments as police attempted to remove demonstrators from the road.

Police Remove Leaders Amid Tense Situation

Eyewitnesses reported pushing and brief scuffles when officers started escorting political leaders away from the protest site. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress MPs objected to being removed, while their security teams remained close to them during the police action.

Despite the rising tension, Congress leaders continued raising slogans while being taken toward police buses. Priyanka Gandhi was surrounded by party colleagues and security personnel as officials moved forward to clear the gathering.

Congress Calls Protest Peaceful

During the operation, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal was seen arguing with police officials, maintaining that the protest had remained peaceful and should have been allowed to continue without intervention. Even with multiple barricades and tight security arrangements in place around the Prime Minister’s residence, several Congress workers managed to reach the demonstration site and participate in the protest.

Police detained participants in phases before transporting Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Akhilesh Yadav in separate vehicles. Authorities took nearly 45 minutes to completely clear the area after removing protesters from the road.

Three-Hour Sit-In Focused on NEET Issue

Before the detentions, Congress MPs had remained seated near the protest location for almost three hours despite hot and humid weather conditions. Throughout the demonstration, they continued demanding accountability over the alleged examination paper leak and sought a parliamentary debate on the matter.

The protest highlighted the Opposition’s attempt to keep the NEET controversy at the forefront during the ongoing Parliament session, arguing that the issue requires immediate government attention due to its impact on students and the credibility of the examination process.

Kharge Criticises Government Response

Following the detention of party leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge strongly criticised the Union government, accusing it of suppressing democratic protests. In a post on X, he alleged that the administration was attempting to silence dissent instead of addressing the concerns raised by students and Opposition parties.

Kharge also claimed that repeated incidents of examination paper leaks had weakened confidence in the country’s education system. According to him, such controversies have affected the future prospects of millions of students preparing for competitive examinations, making institutional reforms and accountability essential.