Revanth Reddy leads Kodangal dharna over Rahul, Priyanka detention
Synopsis
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy took his party’s fight to his own backyard — marching through Kodangal and staging a dharna to protest the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi. With demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s removal and allegations of BJP involvement in the NEET paper leak, the Congress is signalling this controversy will not stay confined to Parliament.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy led a rally and dharna in Kodangal , Vikarabad district, on 22 July .
The protest was in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi , who were detained in New Delhi on Tuesday while protesting outside the PM’s residence.
Revanth Reddy demanded the sacking of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.
He alleged the NEET paper was sold in BJP -ruled states of Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh , and Uttar Pradesh .
He also alleged that PM Modi pressured Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to stall parliamentary debate on the paper leak.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 22 July led a rally and dharna in Kodangal, his Assembly constituency in Vikarabad district, to protest the detention of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and others in New Delhi. The demonstration was held in solidarity with students agitating over alleged paper leaks in national examinations.
How the Protest Unfolded
Revanth Reddy joined party leaders and workers in a march through Kodangal town, with participants carrying Congress flags and banners. The procession concluded in a dharna near the Ambedkar statue. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister condemned the detentions as an assault on democratic rights and called them an attack on democracy itself.
What Triggered the Action
On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders were detained while staging a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence over alleged paper leaks in examinations, including NEET, and the reported police action against students. Revanth Reddy alleged that students protesting in the national capital were lathicharged, injuring hundreds, and claimed that several students went missing following the police action.
Key Demands and Allegations
Revanth Reddy demanded that Prime Minister Modi sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Cabinet, warning that failure to act would sustain a fight ‘from sadak to sansad’. He alleged that the NEET exam paper was sold for lakhs of rupees in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, and accused BJP leaders of involvement in the leak. He further alleged that the Prime Minister pressured Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to prevent parliamentary debate on the NEET paper leak.
Sharp Political Rhetoric
The Chief Minister invoked the legacy of the Gandhi family, noting that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives in service of the country. Referring to the BJP as the ‘British Janata Party’, he framed the political contest as a clash between the ideological successors of Mahatma Gandhi and those of his assassin Nathuram Godse. He expressed confidence that the BJP would be defeated in the next general elections and that Rahul Gandhi would become Prime Minister.
Broader Context
The protests come amid a nationwide controversy over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, with students and opposition parties demanding accountability from the Centre. This is among the most visible state-level mobilisations by a Congress-governed state in response to the detentions, underscoring the party’s effort to amplify the issue beyond Parliament. The next escalation in the ‘sadak to sansad’ campaign will depend on whether the Centre responds to the demand for Pradhan’s removal.
Point of View
Not just parliamentary optics. What is missing from the noise is any specific accountability mechanism: the demand to sack Pradhan is a political ask, not a structural fix for examination integrity. The deeper question — whether India’s examination infrastructure can be reformed — is being drowned out by the theatre of detention and counter-protest.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Revanth Reddy hold a dharna in Kodangal on 22 July?
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held the dharna to protest the detention of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi, who were detained on Tuesday while staging a demonstration outside Prime Minister Modi’s residence over the NEET paper leak controversy and alleged police action against students.
Why were Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi detained?
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders were detained on Tuesday when they staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence against alleged paper leaks in national examinations and what they described as an attack on protesting students. The detentions were condemned by the Congress as an assault on democratic rights.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak controversy refers to allegations that question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test were leaked and sold, compromising the examination for medical admissions. Congress leaders, including Revanth Reddy, have alleged the leak occurred in BJP-governed states and have demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
What did Revanth Reddy demand from the Centre?
Revanth Reddy demanded that Prime Minister Modi sack Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Cabinet. He warned that if this demand is not met, the Congress’s agitation from ‘sadak to sansad’ would continue.
Who is affected by the NEET paper leak row?
Students across India who appeared for the NEET examination are at the centre of the controversy, with many demanding re-examination and accountability. The row has also drawn in political parties, with the Congress using it to mount pressure on the Centre over examination integrity and the treatment of student protesters.
