Sonia Gandhi Arrives at Mandir Marg Police Station After Priyanka Gandhi's Detention

New Delhi: Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi arrived at the Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi on Tuesday evening following the detention of her daughter and Congress MP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The police action came during an Opposition protest held near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

Where had the protest escalated?

The political standoff intensified on Tuesday as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alongside several senior Congress and Opposition figures, staged a demonstration near Lok Kalyan Marg. Protesters raised slogans against the government, demanding accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over police action against students during Monday's agitation.

Prior to the police crackdown, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan met Rahul Gandhi at the protest site in an effort to defuse the situation. However, discussions broke down after the Opposition demanded both a parliamentary debate on exam irregularities and the Education Minister’s immediate resignation.

Following the failure of talks, Delhi Police intervened, forcibly clearing the protest site and detaining several prominent leaders.

What is the background story?

As police moved in to clear the area, key leaders were taken into custody. Rahul Gandhi was detained and taken via police transport toward Chhatrasal Stadium and Model Town Police Station. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was taken to the Mandir Marg Police Station, prompting Sonia Gandhi’s arrival shortly after. Akhilesh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party, was also detained at the protest site, sparking further demonstrations by party workers in Lucknow.

The police action triggered demonstrations across several cities, including Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Lucknow, as Congress and allied parties protested the handling of the situation.

Were there ongoing clashes?

Earlier in the day, leaders from both the government and the Opposition visited medical facilities where students injured in Monday's clashes were receiving care. Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College to meet injured personnel and protesters. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also visited RML Hospital to interact with injured students. Sonam Wangchuk, who had been hospitalized at Safdarjung Hospital, was transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram following orders from the Delhi High Court.

The demonstrations stem from the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Chalo Sansad' march, which turned violent at Jantar Mantar as students and youth groups protested alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities. Security remains on high alert across central Delhi as authorities continue to monitor the situation.