"Injured During Detention": Rahul Gandhi Seen Bleeding from Nose After Protest Outside PM House

New Delhi: Police detained Rahul Gandhi outside the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday evening. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha was seen bleeding from his nose after being taken into custody. Congress has alleged that Rahul sustained injuries to his nose and chest during the detention. He was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium after being detained.

What happened at the dharna site?

When police moved to detain him Rahul Gandhi sat down on the road and refused to go with them. Around ten police personnel then dragged him from the spot and forced him onto a bus. The visuals of him being dragged while bleeding from his nose spread rapidly across social media. Congress alleged he also suffered injuries to his chest during the process.

Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other opposition leaders were also detained around the same time at approximately 6.45 pm. Priyanka Gandhi resisted while being put on the bus. All detained leaders were taken away in police vehicles.

What was the protest about?

Congress leaders had gathered near 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to protest against the police action on students at Jantar Mantar the previous day. Slogans demanding the Prime Minister's resignation rang out at the dharna site. Protesters shouted that bullying will not be tolerated and demanded justice for students. Several Congress MPs including Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Shashikant Sentinel were detained earlier in the day before the main leaders were taken in. During the protest Congress leaders wore symbolic handcuffs to highlight the police action against students.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Rahul Gandhi called the attack on students an attack on every Indian family. He said the government does not want to take accountability for what happened and is not allowing any discussion on the matter in Parliament. He demanded the resignation of PM Modi and the Home Minister. He also invited people who care about justice for students to join the dharna.

What did Priyanka Gandhi say?

Priyanka Gandhi said the opposition wants to discuss the issue in the House but is not being allowed to speak. She demanded the resignation of the Education Minister over the police action on students. Before the dharna both Rahul and Priyanka had visited Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to meet students injured in the previous day's lathi charge.

Government's attempt to defuse?

Earlier in the day Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh and Home Secretary Govind Mohan had visited the protest site and asked Rahul Gandhi to call off the dharna. The talks produced no result and both officials left without any breakthrough. Congress declared it would continue the protest through the night.

Senior Congress leaders including KC Venugopal, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and Pawan Khera were also present at the dharna.