Congress MP Rahul Gandhi participates in a protest over the alleged paper leak and police action against students in New Delhi on July 21, 2026. The image was shared on his official Instagram account. (Photo: Rahul Gandhi/Instagram)
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior Opposition leaders, was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday while leading a protest march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. The demonstration was organized to demand accountability over the alleged paper leak controversy and police action against protesting students.
The protest began near the Congress president’s residence before leaders marched towards Lok Kalyan Marg, where the Prime Minister’s official residence is located. Protesters called for a discussion in Parliament on the paper leak issue and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
As the march approached security barricades, Delhi Police stopped the protesters. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders staged a sit-in on the road, refusing to leave. Visuals from the protest showed police personnel removing Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi from the site. Images circulating on social media also appeared to show Rahul Gandhi with a nosebleed after he was forcibly removed, prompting the Congress to allege excessive use of force by the police. Authorities had not publicly responded to those allegations at the time of reporting.
Following his detention, Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of avoiding accountability over the examination paper leak issue and the treatment of students during recent demonstrations. In a post on X, he said the protest aimed to seek answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that the government was unwilling to debate the matter in Parliament.
The protest comes a day after large-scale demonstrations by students and youth groups over the alleged examination paper leak and police action during earlier protests. The issue has sparked nationwide outrage, with students demanding transparency in recruitment and examination processes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government had taken action against those responsible for the paper leak, stating that several arrests had already been made. However, protesters have continued their demonstrations, arguing that stronger accountability and reforms are needed.
The detention of senior Opposition leaders has intensified the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with the Opposition accusing the government of suppressing democratic protests, while authorities defended police action as part of maintaining security around the Prime Minister’s residence.
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