Rahul Gandhi arrested during protest march against Modi government

NEW DELHI: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was arrested on Tuesday after leading a protest march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, as demonstrations against the government’s handling of student protests intensified.

According to Indian media reports, Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi along with his sister and Congress lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, after security personnel stopped the protest near the prime minister’s residence.

Before his detention, Rahul Gandhi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign, accusing his government of failing the country’s youth and using force against peaceful student demonstrations demanding reforms in the education system.

In a message shared on social media, Gandhi said the prime minister should step down for allegedly “destroying the future of India’s youth.”

Television footage showed police personnel attempting to remove Gandhi from the protest site, where he briefly resisted arrest. Reports said he sustained minor injuries during the confrontation.

Speaking to reporters before being taken into custody, the Congress leader criticised the government for refusing to accept responsibility for the unrest and avoiding a parliamentary debate on the issue.

The latest protest comes a day after clashes erupted in central New Delhi between demonstrators and security forces during a rally over alleged irregularities in the education system. Police said several people were injured during the unrest.

Read More: PTI distances itself from Noorain Niazi’s remarks on Markah-e-Haq

The protests have been led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement, an online campaign that has gained nationwide attention since its launch in May. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calling for wider reforms in India’s examination and education system.

Despite the arrests, CJP organisers announced that their demonstrations would continue, urging supporters to remain peaceful while maintaining pressure on the government.

The protests have become one of the major challenges faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration since he began his third term in office in 2024.