Rahul Gandhi Leads Protest Outside PM Modi’s Residence Over Student Crackdown, Demands Accountability
A day after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march to Parliament, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led a protest march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi, demanding accountability over the police action against student protesters. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
According to reports, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, planned to continue the protest through the night. He also appealed to people across the country to join the sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
In a post on X, Gandhi said the attack on students was an attack on every Indian family. He accused the government of avoiding responsibility and called on citizens to support the protest, saying the voices of students should not be ignored.
Congress workers, led by Kharge and the Gandhi siblings, gathered outside Kharge’s residence at Rajaji Marg before marching towards 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister’s official residence. During the protest, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh visited the site and held talks with Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leaders later said the discussions ended without any agreement. Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the party refused to withdraw the protest because its demands had not been accepted. He said the Congress wanted the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a full discussion in Parliament on the NEET paper leak issue. He added that more MPs, party workers and members of the public would join the protest.
The protest followed Monday’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, during which police used tear gas and carried out a lathi-charge after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. The CJP claimed many students were injured, while Delhi Police alleged that protesters became violent, attacked officers with stones and damaged police vehicles. Police said 118 personnel, including senior officers, were injured during the clashes.
Rahul Gandhi later posted on X that the Congress protest was aimed at holding the government accountable for what he described as police brutality against students. He also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the government of failing India’s youth.
As the protest continued, Delhi Police deployed additional security personnel around the Prime Minister’s residence and detained several Congress workers. The BJP accused the Congress of creating a security risk, while Congress leaders insisted the demonstration remained peaceful.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the Prime Minister had not stayed in Parliament long enough for the Opposition to raise the issue and questioned where the Opposition should go if Parliament was not allowing a debate.
Meanwhile, Parliament was adjourned early for the second consecutive day during the Monsoon Session. The Congress said it repeatedly tried to raise the issue of the NEET paper leak and the police action against students but was not allowed to speak.
Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition wanted to discuss why students demanding justice were met with batons and tear gas, but claimed their microphones were switched off when they attempted to speak in Parliament.
At the same time, Union Health Minister JP Nadda held meetings with CJP representatives and later visited Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital to meet injured protesters. The government said it remained open to discussions with protest leaders but would not tolerate violence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the NEET paper leak issue during the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting. According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Prime Minister called for the strictest action against those responsible and said preventing examination paper leaks was a national responsibility. He also urged all political parties to work together to strengthen India’s examination system and support the country’s youth.
