India’s opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, was detained by security personnel on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after staging a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi and demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Gandhi’s protest came a day after a major police crackdown on supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who had taken to the streets to demand the resignation of Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The Congress leader, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in India’s Lok Sabha, led the protest alongside other opposition figures near Modi’s official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.

The demonstration followed growing tensions over the CJP-led protests and the alleged police action against demonstrators in New Delhi on Monday. Reports said protesters had been demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the resignation of Pradhan.

Gandhi and other opposition leaders intensified their criticism of the government after visiting injured protesters at a hospital in the capital. He subsequently joined a sit-in protest calling for Modi to step down.

The protest reportedly lasted about 20 minutes before a senior government official met Gandhi at the site and urged him to end the demonstration. Gandhi, however, continued to press the opposition’s demands.

Security personnel later moved in and detained Gandhi and other opposition leaders at the protest site.

The detention came amid heightened political tension in New Delhi, where the CJP demonstrations had triggered a strong security response. The protesters had accused the authorities of using excessive force during Monday’s crackdown, while police also reported injuries among their personnel.

The CJP protests have centred on alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and broader concerns about India’s education system. The movement has gained significant attention among young Indians, turning what began as an online movement into a major protest force.

The opposition has now seized on the unrest to demand greater accountability from the government, with Gandhi specifically calling for Modi’s resignation over the handling of the crisis.

The developments have added fresh pressure on the Modi administration as protests continue in the Indian capital and opposition parties push for answers over the alleged examination irregularities and the police response to demonstrators.