India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In the latest development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police during separate protests, a day after clashes broke out during a march towards Parliament.
Delhi Police detained Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during separate protests concerning NEET-UG exam irregularities, following clashes during a march towards Parliament; the government offered to discuss the issue in Parliament.
The agitation, led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has been ongoing since June 6. The group has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
According to the information on the protest site, Rahul Gandhi was pulled and forcefully removed from the protest site by the Delhi police. Informing that he was sitting on a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
Around the same time, Akhilesh Yadav was also taken into custody after joining the demonstration in support of students.
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, protesting with Opposition leaders and workers at Lok Kalyan Marg being detained by Delhi Police.
(Source: Congress) pic.twitter.com/j9cOkbJrwW
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2026
The police action came just a day after protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, resulting in tense scenes in central Delhi.
The participation of senior opposition leaders has added a new political dimension to what began as a student-led movement.
#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi seen inside a bus after being detained by police from the protest site at Lok Kalyan Marg.
(Source: Congress) pic.twitter.com/RZS81IbIRw
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2026
From Student Protest to Political Movement
The Cockroach Janata Party initially launched its campaign to highlight the concerns of NEET aspirants who alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination. The party has maintained that the issue is about ensuring fairness and protecting the future of students.
Founded by Abhijeet Deepke after his return from Boston University earlier this year, the organisation started protests across different states before shifting its main campaign to Delhi. A continuous sit-in began at Jantar Mantar on June 20.
The movement gained wider attention after educationist and social activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 29 and began a hunger strike in support of the students. Since then, activists, students and several public figures have visited the protest site.
Parliament March Ends in Confrontation
On July 20, hundreds of CJP supporters marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament to press for their demands. However, the march was stopped after Delhi Police set up barricades around high-security areas.
Protesters alleged that police used force, including tear gas and lathi-charge, to disperse the crowd after tensions escalated. Several students were reportedly injured during the confrontation, although officials did not immediately release a confirmed figure regarding those injured.
Security remained tight across central Delhi as authorities restricted movement near Parliament, the Prime Minister’s residence and other sensitive government locations.
Centre Reacheed Out to Rahul
The political stand-off over the NEET protest intensified on Tuesday after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. Responding to the protest, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, met Gandhi and conveyed the government’s message that it was ready to hold a discussion in Parliament on all issues related to the NEET examination and the ongoing movement.
According to Singh, Gandhi initially agreed to end the protest if the government assured a debate, but later added a fresh demand seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The minister accused the Congress leader of changing his stand and said the government remained open to discussing the NEET issue in Parliament, while also claiming that the Congress had not submitted a formal notice for such a discussion under parliamentary rules. Later in the evening, Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders from the protest site.
