Rahul Gandhi dragged away, bleeding after march to PM's residence over NEET paper leak row

The protest, which began outside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg, saw Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior Congress leaders march towards the Prime Minister's official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak controversy and action against those responsible.

Rahul Gandhi dragged away, suffers injury

As police moved to disperse the sit-in hours later, Rahul Gandhi refused to leave, sitting on the road surrounded by security personnel.

He was eventually dragged away by police in scenes that quickly went viral, with visuals showing him bleeding from his nose during the detention.

Speaking to reporters while lying on the road after the police action, Gandhi said, "Democracy in India is happening right now."

Before being detained, the Congress leader had announced plans to continue the protest overnight and appealed to citizens to join the demonstration outside the Prime Minister's residence.

"An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family. PM Modi believes he can get away without answers, without consequences. He cannot. Not this time," Gandhi said in a post on X.

Rare face-off between Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister

In an unusual development during the protest, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh visited the demonstration site and held talks with Rahul Gandhi in an attempt to end the standoff.

Congress leaders later said the discussions remained inconclusive as the party insisted on two key demands — the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a debate in Parliament on the paper leak issue.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the party refused to withdraw the protest because its demands had not been accepted.

Jitendra Singh, however, alleged that Rahul Gandhi had initially agreed to end the protest if Parliament discussed the issue but later added a fresh demand seeking Pradhan's resignation.

Police began clearing the protest shortly after Singh's statement.

Congress escalates pressure on government

The demonstration came a day after a student-led march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), during which police used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse protesters.

The Congress accused the Centre of unleashing "brutality" against students and sought to amplify the agitation by taking the protest directly to the Prime Minister's residence.

In a social media post, Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignations of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"We have marched to PM Modi's house to demand answers for the brutalities against young students yesterday. The government does not want accountability or a debate in Parliament," he wrote.

Government defends police action

The Delhi Police maintained that Monday's student protest had turned violent, alleging demonstrators pelted stones, vandalised police vehicles and injured 118 police personnel, including senior officers.

The BJP accused the Congress of compromising the Prime Minister's security by marching towards his residence, a charge rejected by Congress leaders, who insisted the protest remained peaceful.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore questioned why the Opposition was being denied an opportunity to raise the issue in Parliament, saying peaceful protest was the only option left.

Parliament disruptions continue

The Monsoon Session has witnessed repeated disruptions over the paper leak controversy, with both Houses being adjourned early on Monday and Tuesday.

Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of silencing the Opposition by refusing to allow discussion on the alleged assault on student protesters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told NDA MPs that preventing examination paper leaks was a national responsibility and said the government had acted swiftly after the NEET leak surfaced, leading to arrests and action against those involved.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Prime Minister also urged both the ruling alliance and the Opposition to ensure Parliament functions constructively despite political differences.