Indian law enforcement officials have apprehended opposition figure Rahul Gandhi amid escalating protests led by youth in Delhi, following his demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As the head of the Congress party, Gandhi declared on Tuesday that Modi should step down “for jeopardizing the future of India’s youth,” subsequently initiating a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s official residence.
“The government refuses to accept any responsibility and is unwilling to engage in a parliamentary debate on the issue,” Gandhi stated on Tuesday. Video footage captured police forcibly carrying him away as they navigated through large crowds and placed him onto a nearby bus, removing him from the vicinity.
As the bus departed rapidly, chaotic scenes unfolded with demonstrators attempting to board it.
Gandhi shared images depicting his forceful removal by security personnel, asserting that the protest would continue unabated.
His detention coincided with a second consecutive day of intense protests in the Indian capital, driven by a nascent youth political movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). This group has called for reforms in the education sector and the resignation of the education minister following a series of examination controversies.
On Tuesday, central Delhi remained flooded with thousands of demonstrators, indicating an unprecedented wave of dissent against the powerful Modi administration.
Just a day prior, over 50,000 individuals, primarily in their late teens and early twenties, had taken to the streets in protest.
Prime Minister Modi has yet to make any direct remarks regarding the protests.
On Monday, police deployed tear gas against protesters and used batons to disperse crowds during the capital’s most significant demonstrations in five years, with some protesters retaliating by throwing stones. Authorities reported that 60 civilians sustained injuries, along with 118 police officers.
Event organizers criticized the “excessive force” used by authorities, claiming that the number of injured protesters was significantly higher than reported by police. One protester was confirmed to be in critical condition on a ventilator in the hospital on Tuesday.
Some participants traveled extensive distances to join the protests in Delhi, expressing intentions to remain until the government addressed the concerns of the nation’s youth. “The government needs to understand: we are not going anywhere,” stated 23-year-old Ranjit Verma.
“What transpired yesterday was an infringement on our constitution,” remarked Sandeep Dixit, a senior member of the Congress party, to AFP. “In light of this, no dignified politician or citizen can remain passive.”
The CJP has pledged to continue advocating for the removal of the education minister, with thousands of supporters maintaining their presence at the Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi on Tuesday.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke encouraged demonstrators not to lose faith, stating from atop a lorry, “They want to crush our spirit. Do not allow them to silence you.”
Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday after opposition members demanded a conversation regarding the alleged “brutality inflicted upon students.”
The rapidly growing CJP has garnered millions of followers on social media since its inception in May, presenting one of the most significant challenges to Modi since he secured a third term in office in 2024.
This movement arose in response to repeated examination scandals that undermined public confidence in India’s assessment system.
Recently, 2.2 million prospective medical students underwent a re-examination under stringent security measures after the previous test was annulled due to a question paper leak.
This incident followed another scandal concerning the online grading of tests taken by nearly two million high school students.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the government’s actions on Tuesday, stating that it had responded promptly to the exam paper leaks by apprehending several individuals.
He noted that Modi had called for an “error-proof system” to prevent future irregularities during a closed-door meeting with his allies.
With contributions from Agence France-Presse.
