New Delhi: The Congress leaders, alongside numerous party workers and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, were marching from Rajaji Marg towards Lok Kalyan Marg. The protest was also staged to condemn the alleged police brutality inflicted on students who were demonstrating against the exam irregularities a day earlier. As the crowd advanced, Delhi Police intervened to disperse the gathering and detained several prominent leaders.
While being taken into police custody, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra struck a defiant note. She stated that the government was afraid of the opposition, asserting that they were not scared of the authorities.
Speaking from inside a police van, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the protest the beginning of a major movement against the government. He asserted that the authorities could jail or lathi charge them, but the Prime Minister would have to answer the millions of students who lost their future due to the paper leak. He warned that the revolution under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership would turn into a raging fire.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also condemned the police action. He stated that the movement would continue until justice is delivered to the students, demanding an immediate parliamentary discussion on the nationwide issue.
The detentions followed sharp allegations from the government. Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh claimed that Rahul Gandhi had backtracked on a mutual agreement. Singh, who was deputed to negotiate with the Congress leadership, stated that Gandhi initially agreed to call off the protest if the government allowed a dedicated debate on the NEET issue in Parliament.
According to Singh, once the government accepted the demand for a discussion, Gandhi introduced a new condition demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and refused to vacate the unauthorized protest site. The Union Minister further noted that while the government was ready for a debate, the Congress had not even submitted a formal notice under parliamentary rules.
The escalating confrontation highlights the deepening political divide over the NEET UG controversy, transforming a nationwide student grievance into a major legislative and street level flashpoint.