Rahul Gandhi misused LoP privileges, protest outside PM's residence childish: BJP

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Congress leaders, led by Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, had staged a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence on July 21, demanding PM Modi's resignation over the police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak issue

Updated - July 22, 2026 05:17 pm IST - New Delhi

Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders during a protest in New Delhi on July 21, 2026. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The BJP on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), accused Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi of misusing the privileges associated with his constitutional post by staging a protest outside PM Narendra Modi's residence and alleged that the Congress leader wants to come to power by dividing the country.

The party also accused Mr. Gandhi of being ‘hand in glove with anti-national elements’ and described his action as an example of ‘directionless’ and ‘childish’ politics.

Congress leaders, led by Mr. Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, had staged a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), demanding PM Modi's resignation over the police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak issue.

Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition leaders were later detained by the police.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Gandhi family is ‘hand in glove with anti-national elements’ and demanded an investigation into Mr. Gandhi's foreign visits.

"Rahul Gandhi's foreign visits should be investigated. The government should examine whom he met abroad, which officials from Islamic countries he met, which people working to break India he met, which Chinese officials he met, and whether the Soros Foundation is funding him," he told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

Referring to Tuesday's (July 21) protest, Mr. Dubey claimed his son reached his examination centre late because of the demonstration.

"My son reached his examination centre late because of the protest. Is being a leader's son a crime? Is he not a student? Is he not an examinee?" he said.

Alleging that Mr. Gandhi is trying to control the media, Mr. Dubey said the LoP wants to divide the country for political gains.

"Rahul Gandhi is trying to do today what Indira Gandhi did during the Emergency by deciding what the media should publish and say. He wants to come to power by dividing the country.

"He is carrying out these agitations with money from the Soros Foundation and Islamic countries and wants to silence the media," the BJP MP alleged.

BJP MP and Rajasthan unit president Madan Rathore alleged that Mr. Gandhi has misused the special privileges available to him as the LoP and said his protest reflected ‘frustration’, ‘desperation’ and ‘childish politics’.

"As the LoP, he has certain special privileges. He misused those privileges. What was the point of staging a protest outside the prime minister's residence? It reflects the height of frustration and desperation. It was directionless and childish politics," Mr. Rathore told reporters.

He also accused the Congress leader of changing his stand during the protest.

"First, they said they would end the protest if a discussion was held in Parliament. When the government agreed, they changed their demand and sought the prime minister's resignation. Demanding someone's resignation is not a joke. Rahul Gandhi is not serious," he said.

Mr. Rathore said BJP workers would hold demonstrations from 2 p.m. on Wednesday (July 22) and ‘pray that good sense prevails’ upon the Congress leadership.

BJP MP Rahul Sinha also targeted Mr. Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader is trying to use the alleged NEET paper leak issue for political gains.

He claimed the government is already examining the issue and asserted that the NEET re-examination was conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

Mr. Sinha also attacked the INDIA bloc, alleging that the opposition alliance lacks unity and claimed its constituents have come together only to protect themselves.

Published - July 22, 2026 05:04 pm IST

Rahul Gandhi / Indian National Congress / Bharatiya Janata Party / entrance examination / education / civil unrest

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