LIVE: All Congress leaders, CJP protesters released from detention; Wangchuk shifted to Medanta
Rahul, Priyanka, Akhilesh stage surprise sit-in outside PM Modi's residence, demanding his resignation; detained for hours after talks with govt fail
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav were on Tuesday (July 21) evening removed from outside the Prime Minister's official residence in New Delhi where they were staging a sit-in protest demanding his resignation over the police action against students during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s protest march the day before. The leaders were detained for hours before being released late in the evening.
The protest came in response to the pitched battle that ensued between protesters and police personnel during the CJP-led ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally to Parliament on Monday, which was also the first day of the Monsoon Session, held to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
According to Delhi Police, more than 118 police personnel sustained injuries, while the number of injured protesters was 60. A young woman injured in police action is on ventilator support at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, PTI quoted hospital sources as saying on Tuesday. The woman sustained injuries on Monday.
Rahul, Priyanka stage sit-in
On Tuesday, the Gandhi siblings, accompanied by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, protested outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence demanding his resignation. They were joined by several party MPs and leaders, who raised slogans against Modi.
The Congress leaders earlier met some of the students injured in Monday's police action at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Despite Monday's police action, protesters camped at Jantar Mantar through the night braving heavy rains. On Tuesday morning, volunteers cleaned the protest site, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologised to supporters injured in the police action.
'Girls beaten up by male police officers'
Heavy security remained in place around the protest venue as volunteers were seen cleaning the stage, the only structure left standing after police removed the tents and other temporary installations on Monday.
In an X post, Dipke apologised to those injured in the crackdown.
"I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten up by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi Police," he wrote.
"To protect one Dharmendra Pradhan, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 20 students, the government was willing to spill the blood of many more young students," Dipke alleged.
"If you were injured and see this, please DM me. I want to speak to you personally and apologise. We will keep fighting for all of you," he said in another post, while separately describing the developments as, "Not a democracy." CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike had entered its 24th day.
"Sonam Wangchuk is on the 24th day of his hunger strike. He is still fighting for us. We won't stop. Pradhan has to be sacked," Ranka said in a post on X.
Monday's protest
Monday saw thousands of protesters, carrying placards and the tricolour, fanning out across the city and chanting slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Jai Bhim, "Vande Mataram" and "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do".
As the Delhi Police cracked down on the protesters, the CJP alleged brutality and accused the security personnel of using excessive force against protesters during its "Sansad Chalo" march, alleging that several students were injured and Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, was pushed around. CJP also claimed that pellet guns were used on protesters.
Police instead accused the protesters of attacking security personnel with stones and other objects, attempting to breach barricades and vandalising government property.
FIR filed, security tightened
Delhi Police have registered four FIRs so far and are in the process of filing two more in connection with violence, vandalism and other incidents during the "Sansad Chalo", PTI said quoting sources.
Security has also been beefed up across the national capital with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel visible at sensitive locations.
Read our related stories:
A warning shot for 2029? Why Delhi protests hold key for Opposition too
Why CJP’s protest stands apart from previous mass movements
CJP protests in pictures: The day ‘Chalo Sansad’ march turned Delhi into a battlefield
CJP conundrum: Is it just a political 'pest' to get swatted away?
Follow this space for more live updates from the protest and also Parliament's Monsoon Session.
Live Updates
- 21 July 2026 10:37 PM IST
Opposition MPs released from detention
All detained Opposition leaders and party workers were released from detention late on Tuesday evening. Rahul Gandhi was released from detention at Chhatrasal stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was released from Mandir Marg Police Station and other detained MPs from Kingsway Camp.
- 21 July 2026 8:53 PM IST
Protest will continue until students get justice: DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that the movement will continue till “justice” is given.
"It is unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi (were detained). We are all fighting for the cause of the students of this country. We want justice. We want this to be discussed in the Parliament... More than 100 MPs are here. No one is afraid of being arrested... This movement will continue till justice is given," he told ANI.
- 21 July 2026 8:49 PM IST
'No protester under detention,' says Delhi Police
No protester part of the CJP's Parliament march is still under detention, Delhi Police said on Tuesday.
The assertion came as the Cockroach Janata Party claimed that hundreds of protesters were still under police detention, but subsequently announced all its supporters had been released.
The police statement came in the wake of the CJP announcing a protest at the Delhi Police headquarters at 8 pm if the protesters were not released. "It is clarified that no person is currently under detention," the police said, advising people not to share or circulate unverified content.
Earlier, Cockroach Janata Party spokesperson Saurav Das alleged in a post on X that Delhi Police had detained hundreds of "peaceful protesters" after using "brute, borderline-lethal force" and claimed lawyers were not being allowed to meet them or obtain a complete list of detainees. However, in a subsequent post on X, Das said the outfit's lawyers had informed them that all the detainees had been released.
- 21 July 2026 8:47 PM IST
Congress slams Rahul Gandhi's detention, says Pradhan 'will have to resign'
Following the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders, the party on X said, “In a state of fear and panic, Narendra Modi has forcibly removed not only opposition leader Rahul Gandhi ji but also the opposition MPs from the dharna site.”
"But no matter how many attempts you make—our morale is not going to break. Dharmendra Pradhan will have to resign."
- 21 July 2026 7:57 PM IST
Wangchuk shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta in Gurugram
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was discharged from the Safdarjung Hospital on Tuesday evening and shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for further treatment in compliance with a Delhi High Court order, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said.
"Sonam Wangchuk has been discharged from VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital today at 06:40 pm and has been handed over to the team of doctors from Medanta Hospital, Gurugram for further medical care as per the order dated 21.07.2026 of Hon'ble High Court of Delhi," a statement from the Safdarjung Hospital said.
"At the time of discharge, his vital parameters were stable. However, pancytopenia persists, and his serum potassium level was 3.4 mEq/L.
"Copies of all relevant medical records, investigation reports, and treatment documents have been handed over to the receiving medical team to ensure continuity of care," the statement said.
- 21 July 2026 7:52 PM IST
Delhi Police denies CJP's claim of pellet guns used against protesters
Delhi Police rejected allegations by the CJP's chief spokesperson that security personnel used pellet guns against protesters during the "Chalo Sansad" march, terming the claim "completely false and misleading".
CJP's Saurav Das shared a video on his official X handle alleging that police had fired pellet guns at peaceful protesters. The post also carried a video showing a man lying injured in a hospital, claiming he had sustained pellet injuries during the protest.
Responding to the allegation, Delhi Police issued a "Fake News Alert" on its official X account, denying the claim. "Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading," the police said.
The force urged people not to share or circulate unverified content and advised the public to verify facts only through official sources before posting or forwarding information on social media. "Appropriate legal action will be taken against individuals found spreading rumours or misinformation," read the post of the Delhi Police.
- 21 July 2026 7:39 PM IST
Mumbai sees 2nd day of pro-CJP protests
For second straight day, Mumbai witnessed protests by Opposition parties and others on Tuesday in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and to denounce police crackdown on its stir in Delhi.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest at Shivaji Park in Dadar, central Mumbai, in which party president Raj Thackeray's wife Sharmila also participated.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) held a separate demonstration in the Dongri area.
An elderly man at the Shivaji Park protest site told reporters that he travelled from Nivali in Akola district of east Maharashtra to Mumbai with an AC ticket to participate in the agitation and demand a clean education system.
Tension prevailed in Mumbai's Chembur area after a group of local residents took out a protest march to express solidarity with the CJP's ongoing Delhi agitation. They tried to block the Eastern Express Highway to denounce the police action against the CJP-led demonstrators in the national capital, an official said.
- 21 July 2026 7:27 PM IST
WATCH | Why Dharmendra Pradhan won't resign?
The growing student agitation over the NEET paper leak, the alleged UGC-NET leak and the CBSE evaluation controversy has intensified calls from the Opposition for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.Even as the BJP has publicly defended him, including through Home Minister Amit Shah, speculation over an impending Cabinet reshuffle has fuelled debate on whether the government is considering a political reset instead of admitting to policy failures. - 21 July 2026 7:22 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi injured amid scuffle with police
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was reportedly injured during a scuffle with police while being detained at a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Tuesday. The altercation broke out as security personnel moved to disperse protesters staging a sit-in outside Lok Kalyan Marg. - 21 July 2026 7:20 PM IST
Hyderabad joins nationwide NEET protests
The controversy over the alleged NEET paper leak has now reached Hyderabad after triggering widespread protests in Delhi. A day after clashes between police and youth protesters, including members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demonstrations spread to Telangana.
On Tuesday, CJP members marched from the Somajiguda Press Club to Lok Bhavan, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET row. Protesters raised slogans against the Centre, with the party warning that growing anger among the youth could lead to larger protests in the future.
- Inputs from The Federal Telangana
