Arunachal Congress terms Rahul, Priyanka's detention 'arbitrary, illegal'

Public Lokpal
July 22, 2026

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress condemned the detention of senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, during their sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi, terming the action "arbitrary and illegal" and an "assault" on democracy.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and leaders of other opposition parties held a surprise sit-in outside the prime minister's residence on Tuesday, demanding his resignation.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh, along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, went to the site to persuade them to vacate the sensitive area.

Rahul Gandhi's discussion with the minister lasted a few minutes, after which Singh and the home secretary left as the talks remained inconclusive.

Soon after Singh left the protest site, the police forcibly removed and detained Rahul, Priyanka and other leaders in the evening.

Condemning the police action, Arunachal Pradesh Congress president Bosiram Siram on Tuesday said it reflected the BJP-led Union government's "dictatorial mindset", and accused it of attempting to suppress peaceful democratic dissent rather than addressing the concerns of students.

"The detention of the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leaders is not merely an attack on the party, but a direct assault on India's parliamentary democracy, the Constitution, the rule of law, and fundamental rights," Siram said in the statement.

Fearing peaceful protests, the government has exposed its "intolerance and insecurity", he said.

The party expressed solidarity with the detained leaders, student organisations, and party workers, stressing that arrests and police barricades cannot conceal administrative failures or silence public demand for accountability over examination irregularities.

A day earlier, thousands of young and angry people converged near Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon session to push for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, only to be pushed back by lathis and teargas shells.

More than 50 police personnel and protesters were injured during clashes while about 100 people were detained.

Highlighting the uncertainty faced by students due to irregularities in exams, Siram demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and all detained student and party leaders.

He also demanded Pradhan's resignation, saying he must accept moral and political responsibility for the "systemic failures" in safeguarding students' future.

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress also sought a comprehensive discussion in Parliament on examination irregularities and government accountability, along with the immediate withdrawal of FIRs against students involved in recent protests in Delhi.