BJP besieges MP Congress HQ over Rahul Gandhi's Delhi sit-in on NEET row
Synopsis
Hours after Rahul Gandhi led an Opposition sit-in outside PM Modi's residence over NEET and student protests, the BJP retaliated by besieging Congress's Madhya Pradesh headquarters in Bhopal — with party president Hemant Khandelwal accusing the Opposition of 'creating anarchy'. Congress simultaneously held its own demonstrations across the state, targeting a minister's reported 'anarchists' remark against students.
Key Takeaways
BJP workers, led by MP BJP president Hemant Khandelwal , laid siege to the PCC headquarters in Bhopal on 22 July .
The action was a direct response to Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav 's sit-in outside PM Modi's residence in New Delhi over NEET and police action on student protesters.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari joined student protests in Indore ; Congress workers also attempted a demonstration outside Kailash Vijayvargiya's residence.
LoP Umang Singhar alleged that Vijayvargiya called students 'anarchists' in a video, demanding action — which the BJP government has not yet addressed.
Police were deployed at both the PCC office in Bhopal and outside Vijayvargiya's residence in Indore to maintain order.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 22 July laid siege to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters in Bhopal, hours after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi over police action against student protesters and the NEET paper-leak controversy. The counter-demonstration in Madhya Pradesh marked a sharp escalation of the political standoff between the two parties.
BJP's Siege of PCC Office
The protest in Bhopal was led by Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, who marched to the Congress office with a large contingent of party workers raising slogans against the Opposition leadership. Police personnel were deployed around the PCC premises to maintain law and order.
Khandelwal accused the Congress of abandoning democratic norms after repeated electoral setbacks. 'The Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi are trying to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country. BJP workers in Madhya Pradesh are laying siege to the Congress office today. Our message is that if the Congress wants to fight, it should do so in the electoral arena. But it is afraid because the people have already rejected it,' he said.
He further alleged that the Congress leadership was attempting to malign the BJP government and foment chaos rather than respect the people's mandate.
What Triggered the Standoff
The immediate trigger was a sit-in demonstration in New Delhi by Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and senior Congress leaders outside the Prime Minister's residence. The protest targeted the Centre's handling of police action against students protesting the NEET paper-leak, which has drawn national attention and student mobilisation across multiple states.
This comes amid a broader political battle over the NEET controversy, with the Opposition using it as a pressure point against the government ahead of a charged parliamentary session.
Congress Protests Across Madhya Pradesh
Even as the BJP escalated its offensive in Bhopal, the Congress continued demonstrations across Madhya Pradesh. State Congress president Jitu Patwari joined a student protest in Indore, while Congress workers attempted to demonstrate outside the residence of Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya in the city. Police stopped them, stating the minister was in Bhopal.
The protests were also directed at remarks reportedly made by Vijayvargiya against student demonstrators, which have drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition.
Opposition Targets Vijayvargiya's Remarks
Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh assembly Umang Singhar accused the state government of shielding Vijayvargiya. 'Kailash Vijayvargiya yesterday called the students 'anarchists'. There is a video of his remarks. Even then, the government does not want to acknowledge it. No action is being taken against the person who made such remarks against the country's students,' Singhar alleged.
The BJP government has not publicly responded to Singhar's allegations regarding the minister's reported remarks.
What Comes Next
With both parties escalating street-level mobilisation simultaneously, the political temperature in Madhya Pradesh is likely to remain high. The NEET controversy and its handling by both the Centre and state governments will continue to be a flashpoint as Parliament remains in session and student protests show no signs of abating.
Point of View
Activate the state machinery to neutralise optics at the local level. What is notable here is that the BJP's siege in Bhopal risks amplifying the very story it wants to drown out — the NEET controversy and Vijayvargiya's reported 'anarchists' remark. Singhar's video claim, if verified, is the more consequential detail that mainstream coverage has underplayed. The Congress, for its part, is using student anger as a political multiplier, but its credibility on education accountability is also on trial given its own record in states it has governed.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJP lay siege to the Congress office in Bhopal?
The BJP besieged the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Bhopal on 22 July in response to Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders staging a sit-in outside PM Modi's residence in New Delhi over NEET paper-leak and police action on student protesters. MP BJP president Hemant Khandelwal led the demonstration, accusing the Congress of trying to create anarchy.
What was Rahul Gandhi's protest in Delhi about?
Rahul Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leaders, held a sit-in outside PM Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi on 22 July to protest police action against students demonstrating over the NEET paper-leak controversy.
What did Kailash Vijayvargiya reportedly say about students?
According to LoP Umang Singhar, Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya reportedly called student protesters 'anarchists', with Singhar claiming a video of the remarks exists. The BJP government has not publicly responded to demands for action against the minister.
How did Congress respond in Madhya Pradesh?
Congress held counter-demonstrations across Madhya Pradesh. State president Jitu Patwari joined student protests in Indore, while Congress workers attempted to demonstrate outside Vijayvargiya's residence there. Police stopped them, saying the minister was in Bhopal.
What is the NEET controversy at the centre of these protests?
The NEET controversy refers to alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, which sparked student protests across India. The Opposition has used the issue to target the Centre, alleging mishandling and demanding accountability.
