Rahul Gandhi detained during protest near Modi’s residence

New Delhi: A major political confrontation unfolded in New Delhi on Tuesday as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi Police during a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

Gandhi, along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders, had staged a sit-in over the police action against students during Monday’s protest march towards Parliament.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition leaders also joined the demonstration. Police later removed several leaders from the protest site.

The protest followed clashes between police and youth protesters during Monday’s march over alleged examination paper leaks and wider problems in the education system. Gandhi said the Opposition had marched to the Prime Minister’s residence to seek answers over what he described as “brutalities against young students”.

The protesters have been demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The student agitation intensified after Monday’s march, during which police used force to disperse protesters amid clashes.

The Congress protest on Tuesday escalated as police moved in to clear the gathering.

Gandhi was detained along with other leaders, bringing the confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre over the handling of the student protests into sharper political focus.