NEET protest: Gujarat Congress chief among 100 detained in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda and roughly 100 party workers were detained in Ahmedabad on 22 July after a NEET paper leak protest turned confrontational — the second consecutive day Congress leaders have been held by police over the controversy. A grieving father whose son reportedly died by suicide before the exam joined the rally, putting a human face on the political storm.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda and around 100 leaders and workers were detained in Ahmedabad on 22 July .
The protest demanded accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan .
MLA Imran Khedawala and women protesters were among those taken to Shahibaug police station in three police buses .
Prashant Patel , father of student Kahan Patel who reportedly died by suicide before NEET, attended and addressed the rally.
A day earlier, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained in New Delhi during a similar sit-in outside the PM's residence.
The BJP announced a counter-protest outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan later the same day, led by state president Jagdish Vishwakarma .
Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda was among approximately 100 Congress leaders and workers detained by police in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 22 July, after a demonstration over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan turned confrontational. The detentions came as protesters clashed with security personnel near the party's state headquarters.
How the Protest Unfolded
The demonstration began as a sit-in at the Gujarat Congress headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, before party members marched toward a nearby crossroads. Police intercepted the procession, triggering a standoff in which some protesters reportedly climbed onto police vehicles as officers attempted to remove them.
Senior Congress leaders — including Chavda and MLA Imran Khedawala — along with dozens of workers and women protesters were subsequently taken into custody. According to a party worker, all detainees were transported to Shahibaug police station in approximately three police buses.
A Grieving Father at the Rally
Among those who attended the protest was Prashant Patel, father of Kahan Patel, a student who reportedly died by suicide ahead of the NEET examination. Speaking at the demonstration, Patel said: 'My son also lost his life because of the leaks, which is why I went to Delhi for the protest. Today I have come to Ahmedabad.' His presence underscored the human cost at the centre of the NEET controversy.
National Context: Delhi Protest a Day Earlier
The Ahmedabad detentions followed a similar episode in New Delhi on Tuesday, 21 July, when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other Opposition leaders, staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence over the NEET controversy and police action against student protesters. Delhi Police detained those Congress leaders before subsequently releasing them.
This is the second consecutive day that Congress protests over the alleged examination irregularities have resulted in detentions, signalling an escalating confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre on the issue.
BJP Counter-Protest Planned
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced a counter-demonstration outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan later the same day, framing it as a response to the Congress sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi. State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma, along with state office-bearers, party leaders, and workers, were expected to participate.
Anticipating further unrest, senior police officers were deployed around the Congress office and barricades were erected ahead of the BJP event. Heavy security presence continued through the day as political activity intensified in the city.
What Happens Next
With protests spreading from New Delhi to Ahmedabad and the Opposition maintaining pressure over the alleged NEET paper leak, the controversy is expected to dominate political discourse in the coming days. The demand for Education Minister Pradhan's resignation remains unmet, and further demonstrations across states cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
Now in Ahmedabad — reveal a Congress strategy of sustained street pressure over NEET, designed to keep the controversy alive through the monsoon session of Parliament. What is striking is that the BJP's decision to stage a counter-protest at the Congress office, rather than defend the government's record on NEET, suggests it too sees political risk in being seen as dismissive of the exam scandal. The presence of Prashant Patel, whose son reportedly died by suicide before the examination, is a detail that mainstream coverage has underweighted — it shifts the story from partisan point-scoring to a question of institutional accountability that no party can easily deflect.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Congress leaders detained in Ahmedabad on 22 July?
Around 100 Congress leaders and workers, including Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda and MLA Imran Khedawala, were detained after a protest over the alleged NEET paper leak turned confrontational with police. The demonstrators were demanding accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak refers to allegations of examination irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, India's medical college entrance exam. The controversy has triggered widespread student protests and Opposition demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with critics calling for a thorough independent investigation.
Who is Prashant Patel and why was he at the Ahmedabad protest?
Prashant Patel is the father of Kahan Patel, a student who reportedly died by suicide before the NEET examination. He attended the Ahmedabad rally and stated that his son's death was linked to the alleged paper leak, adding a deeply personal dimension to the political protest.
What happened at the Delhi protest the day before?
On 21 July, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Opposition leaders staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence in New Delhi over the NEET controversy. Delhi Police detained the Congress leaders before releasing them later.
What did the BJP do in response to the Congress protest in Ahmedabad?
The BJP announced a counter-demonstration outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan — the Congress state headquarters — on the same day. State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma and party workers were expected to participate, with senior police deployed and barricades erected in anticipation of further unrest.
