21 July,2026 04:30 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera and several Congress MPs participated in the protest. Pic/PTI
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the police action against protesters during the CJP-led march on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The demonstration came hours after proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were adjourned amid Opposition demands for a discussion on the alleged examination irregularities and the police action against protesters in the national capital.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera and several Congress MPs participated in the protest, raising slogans against the government.
The Congress leaders also organised a march towards the Prime Minister's residence, alleging that students protesting against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak were subjected to excessive police action during Monday's "Sansad Chalo" march.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the protest was aimed at seeking accountability from the government.
"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, nor does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament," Gandhi said.
"The Prime Minister and Home Minister must resign for destroying the future of India's youth," he added.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where they met students who were injured during Monday's clashes between protesters and police.
The Congress alleged that students protesting against the alleged paper leak had been subjected to excessive force and demanded that the government accept responsibility for the incident.
In a post on X, the party said, "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi ji, and Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal met with the students injured during the police brutality and lathi charge in yesterday's youth protest. Today, the future of students in the country is being trampled, and lathis are being rained down on those who raise their voices, for which Narendra Modi should apologise. The students' demand is absolutely clear - the government should take responsibility for the paper leak, and Dharmendra Pradhan should resign."
The protest came after both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day as Opposition parties demanded a discussion on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other issues concerning the education sector.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the alleged baton charge on protesters in the Rajya Sabha on Monday and again on Tuesday, accusing the government of failing to address the concerns of students.
The Opposition has been pressing for a debate in Parliament on the alleged examination irregularities and the police response to the protests.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister and Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J.P. Nadda met a delegation of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday after the protest.
According to Nadda, the protesters approached the government for talks, following which discussions were held in what he described as a cordial atmosphere.
"There was detailed verbal discussion first and a written petition was given to me at about 4 pm. I requested all the protesters to end their protest and assist the administration in restoring normalcy," Nadda said in a post on X.
Following the meeting, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the delegation presented three primary demands before the government.
These included the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of NEET aspirants who the party claimed had lost their lives, and other measures related to the alleged examination irregularities.
The CJP has maintained that its protest will continue until its demands are addressed, while Delhi Police has registered FIRs in connection with the violence that broke out during Monday's march and said investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
(With inputs from Agencies)
