Rahul Gandhi leads Congress sit-in outside PM's residence over NEET leak, police detentions
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi took the NEET fight to PM Modi's doorstep on 21 July, leading 120 Congress MPs in a sit-in at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. With leaders allegedly detained and a Union minister showing up for talks, the protest marked a sharp escalation — and Gandhi's X post calling for the PM and Home Minister's resignations added a direct political ultimatum to the street pressure.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi led a sit-in outside PM Modi's residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg , on 21 July over the NEET paper leak and police action on protesters.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge , MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , Manickam Tagore , and Sukhdeo Bhagat were among the 120 MPs present.
MP Manickam Tagore alleged that party leaders were being detained by police at the protest site.
Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh met Gandhi at the site; their conversation was reportedly recorded.
Gandhi demanded the resignations of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah via an X post .
The protest follows a student-led march on 20 July demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the 3 May NEET paper leak .
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on 21 July led a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak and condemning police action against demonstrators who had marched toward Parliament the previous day. The demonstration drew senior Indian National Congress (INC) leadership, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Manickam Tagore among those present.
Leaders Detained, Congress Alleges Police Crackdown
Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that party leaders were being detained by police at the protest site. 'Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is fighting for this cause, is himself at the Prime Minister's residence, and 120 MPs are here. We have been stopped by the police...the government is using the police to stop us. We condemn such an action,' he said.
Tagore further stated: 'Rahul Gandhi is leading the protest, and both he and Mallikarjun Kharge are fighting this battle. It is a genuine demand, as the students have been mistreated and beaten.'
What the Congress MPs Said
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat also addressed the gathering, targeting the Centre's silence. 'We are here to awaken Prime Minister Modi and protest against the cowardly manner in which the government acted yesterday. The Prime Minister did not make any statement, and we strongly oppose the violence that took place,' he said.
Gandhi, in a post on X, directly challenged the government: 'We have marched to PM Modi's house to demand answers from him for the brutalities against young students yesterday.' He added: 'The Government doesn't want to take any accountability, nor does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament. PM and HM must resign for destroying the future of India's youth.'
Resignation Demand and Ministerial Intervention
During the sit-in, Gandhi formally demanded the resignations of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Notably, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh arrived at the protest site and reportedly held a several-minute conversation with Gandhi — an exchange that was recorded by a person present on the spot.
Background: NEET Leak and Monday's March
The protest follows a demonstration on Monday, 20 July, when scores of students — led by the Congress Janta Party (CJP) — attempted to march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak of 3 May. Police action against those demonstrators drew sharp condemnation from the opposition, setting the stage for Tuesday's escalation outside the Prime Minister's residence.
This is the latest in a series of congressional street actions since the NEET controversy erupted, with the opposition seeking to convert student anger into sustained political pressure on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Point of View
However, complicates the government's posture of indifference. Whether this translates into parliamentary pressure — or remains a photo-op cycle — depends on whether the opposition can sustain the agitation past the news cycle and force a government response on the NEET investigation's timeline.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi protest outside PM Modi's residence on 21 July?
Rahul Gandhi led a Congress sit-in at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on 21 July to demand accountability over the NEET paper leak and to protest police action against student demonstrators who had marched toward Parliament the previous day. He also demanded the resignations of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak refers to the alleged leaking of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test paper on 3 May, which triggered nationwide student protests and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The controversy has become a major flashpoint between the government and the opposition.
Were Congress leaders detained during the protest?
Congress MP Manickam Tagore claimed that party leaders were being detained by police at the protest site outside the PM's residence. The police have not independently confirmed these claims as per available reports.
Who attended the Congress protest on 21 July?
The sit-in was attended by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manickam Tagore, Sukhdeo Bhagat, and reportedly around 120 Congress MPs in total.
What happened during the student march on 20 July?
On 20 July, students led by the Congress Janta Party (CJP) attempted to march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak. Police action against the marchers drew condemnation from the opposition and directly prompted Tuesday's escalation.
