Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police Tuesday during a sit-in protest at the Prime Minister's official residence [1, 2, 3].
The demonstration marks an escalation in the opposition's campaign against the government over educational integrity. By bringing the protest to Lok Kalyan Marg, the party aimed to force a direct confrontation regarding the administration's handling of national examinations [1, 2].
The protest centered on an alleged leak of the NEET-UG 2026 examination paper [1]. Congress leaders demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister and the Education Minister, citing a need for accountability for the affected students [2, 3].
Gandhi Vadra, a Congress MP, was among those taken into custody as police cleared the area near the official residence [1, 3]. Gandhi Vadra said the government's reaction to the protest was a sign of weakness.
"They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them," Gandhi Vadra said [1].
Gandhi Vadra said the party is demanding justice for students affected by the alleged paper leak [3]. The sit-in included Rahul Gandhi and other senior party officials who sought to highlight the impact of the leak on medical aspirants [2, 3].
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar supported the action, saying the fight for student justice will continue [3]. The detention occurred as part of a broader effort by the opposition to mobilize public sentiment against the ruling party's educational policies, a move that has seen repeated clashes with law enforcement in the capital [1, 2].
“"They are cowards. They are scared. We are not scared of them."”
The detention of high-profile leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi at the Prime Minister's doorstep signals a shift toward more aggressive, direct-action tactics by the Congress party. By focusing on the NEET-UG 2026 leak, the opposition is attempting to align itself with a critical youth demographic and frame the government as incompetent in managing the nation's competitive examination system.
