Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was taken into police custody on Tuesday after leading a protest march toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence. The demonstration was part of a growing movement demanding reforms to India’s education system and criticizing the government’s response to student protests.
According to Indian media reports, Rahul Gandhi was detained along with his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, as well as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, after police stopped the protest near the prime minister’s residence in New Delhi.
Before his arrest, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of failing India’s youth and urged Prime Minister Modi to resign. In a message shared on social media, he claimed the government had damaged the future of young people by failing to address their concerns and responding harshly to peaceful student demonstrations.
Television footage showed police officers escorting Rahul Gandhi away from the protest site after a brief confrontation. Reports indicated that he suffered minor injuries during the scuffle while resisting detention.
Speaking to journalists before being taken into custody, Rahul Gandhi criticized the government for refusing to accept responsibility for the ongoing unrest. He also accused the administration of avoiding a parliamentary discussion on the issues raised by protesting students.
The latest protest follows violent clashes in central New Delhi a day earlier, when security forces dispersed demonstrators protesting alleged irregularities in the country’s education and examination system. Authorities reported that dozens of people were injured during Monday’s unrest.
The demonstrations have been organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) movement, an online campaign launched earlier this year that has gained widespread support across India. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calling for comprehensive reforms to the national education system.
Despite the arrests of senior opposition leaders, organizers said the movement would continue peacefully until their demands are addressed. The protests have become one of the most significant political challenges faced by the Modi government since it began its third term in office in 2024.
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