Delhi police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav on Monday, July 21, 2026, during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence [1].
The incident marks a significant escalation in the political confrontation between the Congress-led opposition and the central government. The protest centers on a paper-leak controversy involving the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and an alleged crackdown on students demonstrating against the exam's integrity [2, 5].
The demonstrators demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah [2]. The protest, which began as a surprise plan to target the Prime Minister's official residence, eventually led to a confrontation with law enforcement [5].
According to reports, the detention lasted several hours [1]. During the chaos, a Congress spokesperson said a female MP was “forcibly shoved” into a bus by a male police officer [2]. The government attempted to resolve the standoff by sending Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh to persuade Gandhi to end the sit-in [3].
While some reports focus on the detention of Congress leaders, others include Akhilesh Yadav among those held by police [3, 4]. Several individuals were detained in total, though all were later released [3]. Following the release, Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said, “We have called off the dharna” [3].
Some protesters returned to Jantar Mantar following the police action, and reports indicated that some police personnel were injured during the clashes [1]. The event coincides with the ongoing Parliament monsoon session, adding tension to the legislative atmosphere in the capital.
““We have called off the dharna””
The detention of high-profile leaders from both the Congress and Samajwadi Party underscores the volatility of the NEET exam controversy. By moving the protest from traditional sites like Jantar Mantar to the Prime Minister's residence, the opposition is attempting to personalize the political failure of the exam administration. This strategy aims to mobilize student frustration into a broader challenge against the current administration's leadership.
