Rahul Gandhi Thanks Supporters After Detention Over Student Protests

Political tensions escalated in the national capital on Tuesday as Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi intensified the Opposition's campaign against the Centre over the alleged NEET paper leak and the police action against student protesters. After leading a sit-in protest outside the Prime Minister's residence, Gandhi and several Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police before being released later in the evening. Following his release, Gandhi outlined five key demands to the government, setting the stage for another day of confrontation in Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium after his detention, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was taken to Mandir Marg Police Station. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Priyanka during her detention before both leaders were released around 9 p.m. In a video message recorded while in custody, Gandhi thanked supporters for standing with students and reiterated that the Opposition would continue to press for accountability over the examination controversy.

The Congress leader's five demands include the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against police personnel accused of assaulting protesting students and the withdrawal of cases filed against them, a public apology from the Prime Minister over the police crackdown, a full discussion on the issue in Parliament, and immediate reforms in the country's education and examination systems. Gandhi argued that recurring examination paper leaks and rising education costs have placed an unfair burden on students and their families.

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Questioning the functioning of the education system, Gandhi said students were justified in asking why examination papers continue to leak, why education has become increasingly expensive, and why families are forced into financial hardship to secure quality education. He maintained that these issues deserve a detailed debate in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and said the entire Opposition would push for such a discussion during the ongoing Parliament session.

The government, however, rejected the Opposition's criticism and accused the Congress of politicising the issue. Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said he met Rahul Gandhi during the protest and claimed the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on NEET in Parliament. Singh alleged that Gandhi shifted his focus from seeking a debate to demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, calling the move inconsistent with democratic norms.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also criticised the Congress, accusing Rahul Gandhi of exploiting students for political purposes despite the government's stated readiness to discuss the issue in Parliament. In a post on social media, Pradhan alleged that the Opposition preferred political confrontation over constructive debate and argued that its objective was to create disruption rather than work towards solutions for students. With both sides maintaining their positions, the controversy is expected to remain a key flashpoint in Parliament in the coming days.

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