Rahul Gandhi Carried Away by Police During Protest Near PM Residence Over Paper Leak

In a dramatic sequence of events near the Prime Minister's residence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was physically carried away by the police during a protest against the recent paper leak incidents. The Leader of the Opposition, along with several prominent figures from the INDIA bloc, had gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As the police moved in to clear the protest site, Rahul Gandhi lay down on the ground in a gesture of resistance, prompting security personnel to lift him by his hands and legs to remove him from the spot.

Timeline of the Protest and Police Action

The protest began around 3:30 PM on Tuesday when a large group of Congress and opposition leaders marched from Parliament towards the Prime Minister's residence. The sit-in lasted for approximately three hours, during which the leaders raised slogans against the government. By 6:30 PM, the Delhi Police initiated the process of clearing the area and detaining the protesters. Along with Rahul Gandhi, several other high-profile leaders were taken into custody, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar, and Kerala CM Satheesan, while the leaders were protesting against the government's handling of the NEET paper leak controversy and the alleged lack of accountability.

Negotiations and Shifting Demands

During the protest, Union Minister Jitendra Singh arrived at the site to mediate and hold discussions with the protesting leaders, while after an initial round of talks with Rahul Gandhi, Jitendra Singh went to consult with Home Minister Amit Shah. Following his discussion with the Home Minister, he returned to speak with Rahul Gandhi again. In a social media post, Jitendra Singh later claimed that Rahul Gandhi had initially demanded a discussion on NEET in Parliament, which was accepted. However, according to the Minister, Rahul Gandhi later changed his stance and added a second demand: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Minister alleged that Rahul Gandhi went back on his word after the initial agreement.

Confrontation with the Home Secretary

The protest also saw a direct interaction between the Home Secretary and Rahul Gandhi. The Home Secretary informed the Congress leader that the location near the Prime Minister's residence wasn't suitable for a sit-in protest. In response, Rahul Gandhi asserted his right to protest, stating that it was his choice where he decided to sit. This exchange highlighted the tension between the protesters and the administration throughout the afternoon.

Rahul Gandhi's Statements on Youth and Justice

Before the detention, Rahul Gandhi took to social media to express his concerns. In a post on X, he stated that the march to the Prime Minister's house was intended to seek answers regarding the alleged brutality against young students. He accused the government of refusing to take responsibility or allow a debate in Parliament, claiming that the future of India's youth is being destroyed. Speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi further criticized the government, saying that students feel they've no future while ministers are only concerned about keeping their positions. He remarked that there is no justice in a country where students lose their future but ministers don't lose their chairs.