Opposition leaders detained for protesting outside PM residence

Congress leaders, including the CMs of Karnataka and Kerala, started the sit-in outside the PM residence around 3.30 pm on Tuesday

The Delhi Police on Tuesday forcibly removed and detained Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, from outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence for protesting against the police action on students on Monday and demanding the PM’s resignation. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party-ruled State Chief Ministers, VD Satheeshan of Kerala and DK Shivakumar of Karnataka, were also present at the sit-in outside the PM’s residence.

“We have marched to PM Modi’s house to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students yesterday. The Government doesn’t want to take any accountability or does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament. PM and Home Minister must resign for destroying the future of India’s youth,” Rahul posted on social media. The Congress leaders, including the CMs of Karnataka and Kerala, started the sit-in around 3.30 pm.

The Union Government, which reached out to protesting opposition MPs, said Rahul Gandhi did not agree to the Government’s request to stop protesting and instead demanded that Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, too must resign. Minister of State for PMO, Jitendra Singh, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, met Rahul and others, urging them to end sit-in.

“The Government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement... Shri Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy,” Singh said.

While Rahul was put in detention at the Chhatrasal Stadium, Priyanka Gandhi was detained at Mandir Marg police station and other MPs at Kingsway Camp in the north Delhi area. Late evening, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi reached Mandir Marg police station.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha could be seen lying on the ground and resisting as security personnel tried to pick him up. Sources said he was hurt in the process. An aide said he suffered an injury below the eye.

In a follow-up statement after his detention, Rahul said the fight for justice for students will neither stop nor be halted despite the pressures exerted by the Union Government.

On the other hand, several opposition leaders, including NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, visited the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest site at Jantar Mantar.

Pawar, accompanied by party MP Supriya Sule, met injured protesters and members of the movement and condemned the police action during Monday’s attempted march to Parliament.

Among other political leaders who visited the protest site were Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant, Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji, AAP leader Gopal Rai, Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani, and a delegation of parliamentarians from Left parties.