Congress Leaders Detained After Flash Protest Near PM’s Delhi Residence

New Delhi, 21 July 2026 – A handful of Congress stalwarts gathered outside 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on a damp evening, their voices raised against what they called a "shameful" police crackdown on students protesting the NEET paper‑leak saga. Rahul Gandhi, the party’s prominent face and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, stepped up to the microphone, demanding a parliamentary discussion and accountability from the government.

Within minutes, Mallikarjun Kharge – the Congress president – appeared beside Gandhi, nodding in agreement, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s senior MP, added her own remarks about the “erosion of democratic space”. The trio’s presence turned a modest gathering into a flashpoint that quickly caught the eye of Delhi Police.

At around 6:45 pm, officers moved in. Rahul Gandhi was gently escorted away, his hands cuffed but his composure seemingly intact. Kharge and Gandhi Vadra, however, were allowed to stay, albeit under close watch. The police later said the protest was “unlawful” because it was held within a restricted security zone near the Prime Minister’s residence.

Outside the immediate drama, a separate sit‑in continues at Jantar Mantar, where the so‑called CJP (Cockroach Janta Party) activists have been camping for weeks. Their resolve appears unchanged despite recent scuffles with law‑enforcement officials.

In New Delhi’s Parliament, the scene mirrored the street unrest. The Monsoon Session has now been disrupted for a second straight day, with both Houses unable to conduct ordinary business. The Centre, when approached for comment, maintained that a discussion on the NEET‑related allegations had been offered in the House, suggesting a willingness to address the concerns – at least on paper.

As the night deepened, the protest’s impact lingered. While the immediate crowd dispersed, the images of Gandhi, Kharge and Gandhi Vadra standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder on a Delhi street have already sparked a flurry of debate on social media, with supporters hailing their boldness and critics accusing them of political theatrics.