India opposition leader Gandhi freed after detention at student-led protest

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was released late Tuesday after being detained during a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi. Gandhi and other opposition figures were protesting in support of student-led demonstrations over India’s education system and accused the government of failing to respond to students’ demands.

The protests have been driven largely by young people and the social media-based Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which Al Jazeera described as a fast-growing movement that began two months ago. Demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after alleged medical school exam paper leaks forced more than two million students to retake tests. The report said the scandal has been linked to at least 12 student suicides.

Pradhan criticised Gandhi’s protest action in a post on X, accusing him of using students for political disruption. He said students need answers, reforms and accountability, and that the government remains committed to providing them. Protesters are also objecting to the authorities’ handling of the demonstrations and demanding broader education reform and government accountability.

Al Jazeera reported that police used tear gas and batons on Monday to stop protesters marching toward parliament in New Delhi. Police said 118 personnel and 60 others were injured. Protests also took place in Mumbai and Bengaluru, while hundreds remained at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site on Wednesday. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike helped energize the movement, was moved to a private hospital by court order after his wife challenged his detention.