Rahul Gandhi detention: Telangana CM calls it attack on democracy
Synopsis
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud have condemned the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders in New Delhi as an attack on democracy — and have called a 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' march for Wednesday. The detentions followed a Congress march to the PM's residence over alleged paper leaks and an attack on students.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy condemned the detention of Rahul Gandhi , Priyanka Gandhi , and other Congress leaders in New Delhi as an assault on democratic rights.
Congress leaders were detained while marching from 10, Rajaji Marg to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg to protest alleged paper leaks and an attack on students.
TPCC has called a 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' march in Hyderabad on Wednesday , mobilising ministers, MPs, MLAs, and party functionaries.
TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin also condemned the detentions.
Revanth Reddy posted on X: 'You can throw us in jail...but you cannot suppress the anger of millions of young Indians fighting for justice and accountability.'
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday sharply condemned the detention of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders in New Delhi, calling it a direct assault on democratic rights. The Telangana Congress has simultaneously called for a 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' march on Wednesday to register its protest.
What Triggered the Detentions
Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi had gathered outside the Congress president's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg before marching toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The march was staged to protest against alleged paper leaks and what the party described as an attack on students. The leaders were detained en route, drawing immediate condemnation from Congress units across the country.
Telangana Congress Calls 'Chalo Raj Bhavan'
The TPCC has directed all ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of the Legislative Council, District Congress Committee presidents, leaders of frontal organisations, and party functionaries to participate in the Wednesday protest march to Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad. The mobilisation signals the party's intent to escalate pressure on the Centre over the detentions.
What Leaders Said
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, in a post on X, stated that the entire Congress family and the country stood firmly with the youth demanding accountability from the Central government. 'You can throw us in jail, you can try to suppress us, but you cannot suppress the anger of millions of young Indians fighting for justice and accountability,' he wrote.
TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud said that silencing the Opposition through detention would neither suppress the truth nor the people's aspirations. 'Every citizen has the constitutional right to peaceful protest and democratic expression. We stand firmly with Rahul Gandhi ji and remain committed to protecting the Constitution and the values of our democracy,' he added.
Minister for Minority Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin said detaining the Leader of the Opposition for peacefully standing with students reflected a 'deeply worrying intolerance towards democratic dissent.' He added: 'The concerns of our youth deserve dialogue and justice, not force. We will continue to stand with every student whose voice deserves to be heard.'
Broader Context
The detentions come amid a charged political atmosphere over allegations of paper leaks affecting competitive examinations, with student groups across several states demanding accountability. This is not the first time Opposition leaders have been detained during protests at or near the Prime Minister's residence; critics argue such detentions have become a recurring flashpoint between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre and the Congress-led Opposition. The Telangana government, led by the Indian National Congress (INC) since its victory in the 2023 assembly elections, has been vocal in challenging Central policies on multiple fronts.
Wednesday's 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' march will be a key indicator of how strongly the Telangana Congress can mobilise on the ground in response to national-level political developments.
Point of View
Which animated students well before the Opposition took it up, gives the protest a credibility that purely partisan demonstrations often lack. Whether the BJP responds substantively to the underlying student grievances or doubles down on the optics of law and order will shape how this episode plays out in the public imagination.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders detained in New Delhi?
Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders were detained while marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg to protest alleged paper leaks and what the party described as an attack on students. The march began from the Congress president's house at 10, Rajaji Marg.
What is the 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' protest called by Telangana Congress?
'Chalo Raj Bhavan' is a protest march called by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee for Wednesday in Hyderabad, directed at Raj Bhavan, to condemn the detention of Opposition leaders in New Delhi. The TPCC has asked all ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, DCC presidents, and party functionaries to participate.
What did Telangana CM Revanth Reddy say about the detentions?
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, in a post on X, said the entire Congress family and the country stood firmly with the youth demanding accountability from the Central government. He stated: 'You can throw us in jail, you can try to suppress us, but you cannot suppress the anger of millions of young Indians fighting for justice and accountability.'
Who else condemned the detention of Rahul Gandhi from Telangana?
TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Minister for Minority Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin both condemned the detentions. Goud called it an attempt to silence the Opposition, while Azharuddin said detaining the LoP for peacefully standing with students reflected a deeply worrying intolerance towards democratic dissent.
What is the paper leaks controversy behind the Congress protest?
The protest was staged against alleged paper leaks in competitive examinations, which student groups have been agitating over across several states. Congress leaders marched to the PM's residence to demand accountability from the Central government on the issue, and were detained en route.
