As the protest gathered momentum, Delhi Police deployed heavy security, including the Rapid Action Force, before detaining Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other Opposition leaders.
The political confrontation between the Congress and the Centre escalated sharply on Tuesday as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several INDIA bloc leaders staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged police action on students protesting the NEET issue.
The protest came a day after clashes between police and students during the CJP-led march to Parliament. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi visited students undergoing treatment at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital before the Opposition decided to intensify its agitation.
The Congress demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a discussion on the NEET issue and the alleged police action in Parliament, and justice for the injured students.
As the protest gathered momentum, Delhi Police deployed heavy security, including the Rapid Action Force, before detaining Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other Opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh met Rahul Gandhi at the protest site and later briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The government subsequently accused the Congress of changing its demands and alleged that the party had set a “dangerous precedent” by protesting outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Here’s a timeline of how the political drama unfolded:
1:15 pm: Rahul Gandhi visits injured students at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital.
2:40 pm: INDIA bloc leaders decide to seek a special discussion in Parliament on the CJP protest, the alleged NEET paper leak and police action on students. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav back the move, sources say.
3:29 pm: Congress leaders leave Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence for the protest.
3:36 pm: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K.C. Venugopal and other Congress MPs begin protesting near Lok Kalyan Marg.
3:43 pm: Congress launches a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
3:48 pm: Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel at the protest site.
3:51 pm: Congress MPs K. Suresh, Charanjit Singh Channi and several other leaders are detained.
4:27 pm: Additional police personnel and Rapid Action Force (RAF) teams equipped with lathis are deployed.
4:30 pm: Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh arrives at the protest site and meets Rahul Gandhi.
5:09 pm: Congress formally confirms its demands, including discussion on the NEET issue and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
5:17 pm: Jitendra Singh leaves to brief Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
5:44 pm: Union Home Secretary joins Jitendra Singh for a meeting with Amit Shah.
6:02 pm: Chairs are brought to the Congress protest site as the sit-in continues.
6:13 pm: Jitendra Singh posts on X, alleging that Rahul Gandhi changed the Congress’s demands after the government agreed to a discussion in Parliament.
6:14 pm: Meeting between Amit Shah, the Union Home Secretary and Jitendra Singh concludes.
6:28 pm: Delhi Police begin detaining more Opposition leaders.
6:30 pm: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives at the protest site.
6:41 pm: Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are detained and taken away in separate police buses.
7:01 pm: Congress leader Pawan Khera says the party has not been informed where Rahul Gandhi has been taken.
7:07 pm: Akhilesh Yadav says the Prime Minister should listen to the students’ demands instead of ignoring them.