Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were forcibly removed by police from a dharna site near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, on Tuesday, 21 July, after a march demanding accountability over alleged examination paper leaks and police action against student protesters. The eviction marked a sharp escalation in the opposition's campaign on education-related grievances.

How the Eviction Unfolded

Rahul Gandhi sat on the road in an act of defiance, refusing to leave the protest site. He was surrounded by multiple police personnel before being escorted into a police vehicle alongside other opposition leaders. The demonstration had begun earlier in the day when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led party workers from Kharge's residence toward the Prime Minister's official home, intensifying the opposition's pressure campaign.

Before his detention, Rahul Gandhi appealed to citizens to join the dharna, stating: 'An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family.' He accused the government of failing to address concerns raised by student protesters.

Government Engages, Talks Remain Inconclusive

Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh arrived at the protest site and met with Rahul Gandhi — a notable move signalling that the Centre was not entirely dismissing the opposition's outreach. However, Congress leaders said the talks yielded no resolution. The party maintained two firm preconditions: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a dedicated parliamentary discussion on the alleged examination paper leaks.

Jitendra Singh, for his part, stated that the government was open to a Parliament debate on education issues. He alleged that the Congress subsequently added the minister's resignation as a fresh precondition, complicating any path to dialogue.

Broader Opposition Closes Ranks

The protest drew support well beyond the Indian National Congress (Congress). Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule, NCP(SP) president Sharad Pawar, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal all extended backing to the agitation, signalling that the issue has galvanised a wider opposition front. This comes a day after a students' march to Parliament on Monday, 20 July, was met with police intervention — an incident the Congress has demanded an apology or resignation over from both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

What the Opposition Is Demanding

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain declared that the party would sustain its protest until all demands were met. Beyond Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, the Congress has called for Modi and Shah to either apologise or step down over Monday's police action against student demonstrators. The opposition's dual focus — examination integrity and state response to protest — has framed this as an education and civil liberties issue simultaneously.

Context and What Comes Next

The agitation is rooted in widespread allegations that question papers for major competitive examinations were leaked, undermining the credibility of results that determine the futures of millions of students. The opposition has sought to convert student anger into a sustained political campaign. With talks inconclusive and opposition leaders detained, the standoff is likely to spill into Parliament proceedings in the coming days.