Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Lead Protest Outside PM Modi’s Residence Over Student Crackdown
Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday led a high-profile protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence in New Delhi, accusing the Union government of using excessive force against student demonstrators during the recent youth-led “Cockroach” movement protests. The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Indian National Congress, sought accountability for the police action and renewed calls for reforms in the country’s examination system.
Rahul Gandhi said the protest was aimed at demanding answers directly from the Prime Minister over what the Congress described as the “brutal treatment” of young protesters. The march followed violent clashes a day earlier, when Delhi Police used tear gas, barricades and baton charges to disperse demonstrators attempting to reach Parliament, leaving nearly 180 people injured according to reports.
As Congress workers, opposition leaders and supporters attempted to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence, security personnel stopped the procession and detained several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition figures. Television footage and videos circulated by the Congress showed police escorting the leaders into buses after they refused to disperse. Some reports also claimed Rahul Gandhi suffered a minor nosebleed during the scuffle, an allegation highlighted by the Congress while authorities had not officially commented on the claim.
The protest was closely linked to the ongoing nationwide agitation over alleged examination paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. Congress leaders reiterated demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a judicial probe into the examination controversies, and stronger safeguards to restore confidence in public examinations. The party accused the government of suppressing democratic dissent instead of addressing the concerns of students and job aspirants.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defended the government’s handling of the situation, maintaining that law enforcement acted to preserve public order and that investigations into examination irregularities were already underway. Government representatives have also pointed to recent arrests and administrative measures intended to strengthen the integrity of competitive examinations.
The incident has intensified the political confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with several opposition parties expressing solidarity with the student movement. The protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence has further elevated the controversy into a major national political issue, bringing questions of youth employment, examination integrity, democratic protest and police accountability to the forefront of public debate.
