Delhi police detained Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday after they staged a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence [1].

The event marks a significant escalation in the opposition's campaign against the central government over alleged irregularities in national medical entrance exams. The protest targeted the administration's handling of the NEET paper leak row and what the Congress party described as a police "attack" on student protesters [2].

The demonstration began at approximately 3:30 p.m. [3] in the Lok Kalyan Marg area of New Delhi. Joining the Gandhi siblings were other prominent opposition figures, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav [4].

The protest followed a period of intense volatility. Reports indicate that 60 protesters were injured in clashes the previous day [5], while 118 police personnel also sustained injuries during those same confrontations [6].

Accounts of the detention differ regarding the level of force used. Some reports state that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were moved from the site and taken away in a bus [1]. However, other reports indicate that Rahul Gandhi was forcibly lifted and dragged away, with images appearing to show an apparent nosebleed [7].

"Democracy in India is happening right now," Rahul Gandhi said [8].

In response to the unrest, government representative Jitendra Singh said that Rahul Gandhi changed his demands after talks with the Centre [9].

“"Democracy in India is happening right now,"”

The detention of high-profile leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav underscores the deepening friction between the Indian opposition and the current administration. By centering the protest on the NEET paper leak, the opposition is attempting to mobilize student frustration and a sense of systemic unfairness to challenge the government's credibility on governance and public safety.