The Congress on Tuesday released videos showing the detention of senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after Delhi Police removed protesters staging a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence over the alleged police action on students protesting the NEET issue.
The videos, shared by the party on its official X handle, showed police personnel clearing the protest site and taking Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other Opposition leaders into custody.
RAHUL SEEN LYING ON ROAD WHILE BEING DETAINED
One of the videos showed Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi lying on the road as police personnel attempted to lift and remove him from the protest site. The former Congress president appeared to resist being taken away as security officials surrounded him and carried him from the spot.
The Congress also shared photographs showing Rahul Gandhi with what appeared to be an injury below his left eye after the police action. An aide said he sustained the injury during the scuffle.
In another video, Rahul Gandhi was seen speaking to reporters while lying on the road. "Democracy in India is happening right now," he said in an apparent swipe at the government.
PRIYANKA GANDHI HOLDS ON TO BUS
Another video released by the Congress showed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra standing at the entrance of a police bus and refusing to board it. She was seen holding on to the bus door even after it started moving before she was eventually detained.
The Congress said the videos and photographs showed the manner in which its senior leaders were taken into custody during the protest.
HOW THE PROTEST UNFOLDED
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including the chief ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, began the sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence at around 3.30 pm. The protest was held against the alleged police action on students during Monday's CJP-led march over the NEET issue.
The demonstration came hours after Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited students who were injured in the clashes with police.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament and justice for students injured during the police action.
GOVERNMENT'S VERSION
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said he, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, met Rahul Gandhi at the protest site and urged him to end the sit-in.
Singh claimed Rahul Gandhi initially agreed to withdraw the protest if the government allowed a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. According to him, after the Centre conveyed its willingness to hold the discussion, the Congress leader added a fresh demand seeking the resignation of the education minister.
Describing Rahul Gandhi's conduct as "unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy", Singh accused the Congress leader of going back on his word.
The Congress, however, maintained that its protest was against the alleged police action on students and accused the government of failing to address the issue in Parliament.
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Published By:
Aprameya Rao
Published On:
Jul 21, 2026 22:06 IST