Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi among Opposition leaders detained during protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged police action against students demonstrating on the NEET issue.
Senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and several MPs, staged a sit-in demanding action over the handling of student protests and raising political demands related to the controversy.
The protest followed visits by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to students who were reportedly injured during police action the previous day.
According to party leaders, officials requested the protesters to disperse before police intervened. Visuals from the scene showed security personnel removing several leaders from the protest site. Congress leaders alleged that force was used during the detention, while an aide to Rahul Gandhi claimed he sustained a minor injury during the scuffle.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a discussion on the issue in Parliament and action regarding the alleged police excesses against students.
Senior party leaders also criticised the Centre over its handling of the issue and reiterated their demand for accountability.