Indian opposition leader Gandhi arrested outside PM Modi's Delhi resid

Indian police detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi, as a large protest over education reforms and student grievances continued to intensify, according to a monitored public feed citing The Press Trust of India and Delhi Police.

Police also detained Gandhi’s sister and fellow lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi, along with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, from the protest site, the feed said. Rahul Gandhi, who leads the Indian National Congress and serves as leader of the opposition in the lower house, had been marching with other members of parliament toward the prime minister’s residence when police moved in.

Gandhi called on Modi to resign, accusing his government of failing India’s youth and of avoiding accountability over the crackdown on student demonstrations. In a post on social media, he said the prime minister should step down “for destroying the future of India’s youth,” according to the feed.

The Press Trust of India reported that Gandhi could be seen on the ground resisting as security personnel tried to lift him. The feed said he was hurt during the detention.

The confrontations came a day after major clashes in central Delhi during protests demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader examination reforms. Delhi Police said at least 178 people were injured in Monday’s clashes, including 118 police personnel, while protesters and organisers said hundreds were hurt. Police accused demonstrators of violent and aggressive behaviour, a charge rejected by protest leaders.

Organisers said they would continue their campaign. The feed quoted protest figures as saying they would not stop until Pradhan was removed and reforms were addressed. A number of protesters remained camped at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, where calls for changes to the education system were still being voiced.

The unrest has become one of the biggest street mobilisations in New Delhi in about five years and has added pressure on Modi’s government, which has faced recurring criticism over jobs, education and exam integrity. Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday after opposition lawmakers sought a discussion on the police response to the protests.

This report is based on a monitored public feed. Source attribution: Dawn Home cited reporting from The Press Trust of India and statements from Delhi Police and protest organisers.

Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017219/indian-opposition-leader-gandhi-arrested-outside-pm-modis-delhi-residence-amid-mass-protest