Delhi’s Cockroaches Hit the Streets, Rahul Gandhi Gets Detained

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained by police on Tuesday while taking part in a protest in the national capital demanding accountability from the Narendra Modi government and calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister. Gandhi staged a sit-in near the Prime Minister's residence, accusing the government of failing to address concerns raised by students and young people. He alleged that the government had avoided accountability and refused to allow a meaningful debate on the issues in Parliament. “The government doesn't want to take any accountability, nor does it want to have a debate on it in Parliament,” Gandhi said during the protest. Visuals from the protest showed police personnel removing Gandhi from the site and taking him to a nearby vehicle as crowds gathered around the area. Gandhi later shared images of his detention and indicated that the opposition would continue to raise the issues at the centre of the ongoing protests. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also reportedly detained briefly during the demonstrations. The detention came amid a wider protest movement led by young activists, who have been demanding reforms in the education system and action over alleged irregularities and controversies surrounding examinations. The movement, which has drawn significant support among students and young people, has also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Thousands of protesters gathered in central Delhi for a second consecutive day, following large demonstrations on Monday. The protests reportedly saw clashes between demonstrators and police, with authorities using tear gas and batons to disperse crowds. Some protesters were also accused of throwing stones. Police officials said dozens of civilians and more than 100 police personnel were injured during Monday's unrest. Protest organisers, however, disputed the official figures and alleged that the number of injured demonstrators was considerably higher. The protests have emerged as one of the largest recent demonstrations in the national capital, with thousands of young people continuing to gather at Jantar Mantar and other locations. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have expressed solidarity with the student movement and criticised the police response. Congress leaders accused the authorities of using excessive force and demanded accountability for the handling of Monday's demonstrations. The government, meanwhile, has maintained that the safety and future of India's youth remain a priority. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday that the government was committed to ensuring the safety, security and future of young people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not publicly commented on the protests so far. The youth-led movement has vowed to continue its demonstrations until its demands are addressed. Its organisers have urged protesters to remain peaceful and persistent, while opposition parties have indicated that they will continue to raise the issue in Parliament and on the streets. With thousands of protesters still gathered in Delhi, the demonstrations are likely to remain a significant political challenge for the government, while the debate over education reforms, examination-related concerns and the police response continues to intensify.