Rahul Gandhi detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi, Congress and several media outlets reported. The Congress leader had led a sit-in at Lok Kalyan Marg and called for Modi’s resignation, accusing him of “destroying the future of India’s youth.”
Police officers forcibly lifted Gandhi by his arms and legs, pushing through crowds before placing him on a bus and removing him from the area, video footage of the incident showed. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a senior Congress strategist, was also briefly detained during the same protest, the party said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary KC Venugopal were among the senior party leaders who joined the demonstration before police intervened. Union Minister Jitendra Singh reportedly met Gandhi briefly during the protest and urged him to call off the agitation, DW reported.
Gandhi’s protest coincided with a second consecutive day of unrest in Delhi, driven by a youth-led political movement calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The group has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following repeated testing scandals, and has called for changes to India’s education system.
The unrest intensified after Monday’s demonstrations, in which more than 50,000 people took to Delhi’s streets. Delhi Police said 60 civilians and 118 police personnel were injured after officers used batons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Ahead of Tuesday’s protest, Gandhi and his sister visited students who had been injured in Monday’s clashes.
The protests followed widespread anger over alleged examination irregularities and demands for greater accountability in India’s education system. According to multiple media reports, the Cockroach Janta Party emerged as a youth-led movement calling for reforms after a series of testing controversies. Organisers said the demonstrations were intended to highlight concerns over students’ futures, while authorities maintained that law enforcement acted to manage public order during the large gatherings. Both the protesters’ allegations and the official response continue to be closely followed as demonstrations remain underway.
Congress leaders condemned Gandhi’s detention as a sign of the government suppressing dissent. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said democracy depends on dialogue rather than “batons and suppression,” while Venugopal accused the Modi government of being “completely anti-democratic.” Congress shared videos on its official social media accounts showing Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after their release; it has not been independently confirmed whether either leader was formally charged.
Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin, meanwhile, rejected the criticism, describing Gandhi as a “symbol of anarchy” and saying the protest outside Modi’s residence was “unbecoming” and crossed the line from legitimate protest into disorder. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the government’s priority was the “safety, security and future” of India’s youth. Modi himself has not directly commented on the protests, and no statement has appeared on the Prime Minister’s Office website.
Separately, Delhi Police released all students who had been detained during Monday’s protests, prompting the CJP to call off a planned demonstration outside police headquarters. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged supporters to keep up the pressure, telling a crowd that authorities “want to break our spirit.”
The CJP has said it will continue its campaign until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, with protesters remaining camped at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar site. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 24 days in support of the movement’s demands, was moved to a private hospital, according to DW. It has not been confirmed whether Gandhi or other detained leaders will face formal charges.
The protests remained ongoing as of Tuesday, while authorities and opposition leaders continued to trade accusations. No official announcement had been made on any change in the government’s position or on possible legal action against those detained. Rahul Gandhi detained outside the prime minister’s residence remains the day’s central development in the ongoing standoff between Congress and the Modi government.
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