From Kharge's birthday to Rahul's sit-in: How Congress' unprecedented protest near PM Modi's residence unfolded

Congress leaders, led by Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, surprised the Union government by staging a sit-in protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Tuesday. The Congress leaders demanded resignation of prime minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) march in Delhi on Monday.

The Congress party’s top leadership surprised not just the government and the police but also several of its MPs in staging a sit-in at one of the gates of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, according to a report in PTI.

The protest was unprecedented in that no Leader of the Opposition has in recent times staged a protest on the high-security stretch – Lok Kalyan Marg, earlier known as Race Course Road – which houses the official residence of the prime minister.

For the party's top leaders to stage a protest at such a high-security area, it was important to maintain secrecy, as otherwise the area could have been blockaded, a party leader in the know of the developments said.

At 2 pm on Tuesday, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day amid ruckus by opposition leaders. Congress MPs were asked to gather at party President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 10, Rajaji Marg. Kharge turned 84 on Tuesday and the Congress leaders assumed they were being invited to celebrate the Congress president's birthday at his house, according to an NDTV report.

Around 50 MPs were at Kharge’s house. With the number in mind, the Congress leadership thought of walking up to the gate of 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the PM residence which is about 15-20 minute from Kharge’s official house.

The walk led by Gandhi siblings began at 3. 15 pm. The leaders arrived at LKM at around 3.30 pm and began their sit-in.

The images and videos flashed. Sloganeering began. Chief Minister of Karnataka K Shivakumar and Kerala CM V D Satheesan, besides several Congress MPs, raised slogans against the Prime Minister.

In less than an hour, Union Minister Jitendra Singh arrived to meet Rahul Gandhi. Singh failed to convince Rahul and others to end the protest. Rahul demanded resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Soon, Singh took to X and slamming Rahul Gandhi for going back on his word. Singh said Rahul earlier wanted a debate on NEET-related issues but later added the resignation part which, according to him, was against the democratic principles.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav also arrived at the protest site around 6.30 pm. So did NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule. Around that time police action began. By 7 PM, all leaders - including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi and Yadav - had been detained. Images of Rahul Gandhi being picked were soon viral on social media.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to the Chhatrasal Stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was taken to the Mandir Marg police station. Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi visited Priyanka Gandhi at the police station. Gandhi siblings were released around 9 pm.

Congress released another photograph of Rahul Gandhi. This time, the Leader of the Opposition was pictured from behind, with stains on his clothes and one shoe missing, in what appeared to be an attempt to reinforce its claim that he was dragged by authorities during the protest.

A meeting of the India bloc is scheduled for on Wednesday to decide the future course of the protest. A strategy will also be formulated on cornering the Centre on the paper leaks issue and its handling of the protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and the Congress.

The Monsoon Session has already been washed out for two consecutive days. No business is expected to take place on Wednesday – the third day.

(With agency inputs)