Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and MP Shashi Tharoor, were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday during a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The leaders were released later in the day.

Following his release, Tharoor criticised the police action, saying democratic protests should not be curtailed and that political parties must be allowed to raise issues affecting the public. The protest came a day after the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in Delhi, which ended in clashes with police.

Tharoor Criticises Police Action

Reacting to the detention of Congress leaders, Shashi Tharoor said the action was inconsistent with democratic principles.

“What happened is absolutely wrong. This should not happen in a democracy. We need to raise the issues and the demands of the public,” Tharoor told ANI.

Congress leaders had assembled near Lok Kalyan Marg to protest against the Centre over the alleged examination irregularities and to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Congress Intensifies Attack on Education Minister

Congress MP and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Manickam Tagore accused the Union government of failing to address repeated examination paper leaks and held the Education Minister responsible for the alleged NEET-UG controversy.

In a post on X, Tagore wrote: “152 paper leaks from 2014. Shameless Pradhan resign first. 93 NEET-linked student suicides since 2021. At least 13 dead in the 46 days after his own government’s paper leak forced a re-test. And Union Education Minister @dpradhanbjp responds to calls for his resignation with… a Sanskrit shloka on the glory of the Guru. Pradhan, the blood of India’s brightest is on this NEET-UG scam. Spare us the sermon. Resign.”

Opposition Leaders Detained and Released

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among several Congress leaders detained by the Delhi Police during the demonstration.

Rahul Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders, was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium before being released later.

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi reached Mandir Marg Police Station, where Priyanka Gandhi had been detained.

Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Pawan Khera participated in the protest. Kerala Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also joined the demonstration.

Protest Follows CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ March

Tuesday’s Congress protest followed the Cockroach Janata Party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on Monday, which witnessed clashes between protesters and Delhi Police in central Delhi.

The Congress has continued to target the Centre over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, demanding accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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