Published Jul 23, 2026 | 8:29 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2026 | 8:30 PM
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Synopsis: Rahul Gandhi and Opposition MPs were briefly blocked on their way to Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Gandhi said the Opposition had decided to take its protest to the streets in solidarity with students and later paid tribute to those who lost their lives due to the NEET paper leak.
A bus carrying Opposition MPs, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, was briefly stopped by Delhi Police while proceeding to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg on Thursday evening (23 July).
The convoy, which left from Gandhi’s residence at around 7 pm, reached the venue around 8 pm.
Speaking from inside the bus carrying Opposition MPs, Gandhi said the delegation had initially planned to visit India Gate before deciding to head to Gandhi Smriti after being denied permission.
“What’s happening? We wanted to take the Opposition MPs to India Gate in solidarity with the children. But they refused. So then we wanted to take them to Tees January, Gandhiji’s assassination site. And now what they’ve done is put this bus in front of us, they’ve put up barricades, and they’ve parked another bus on the side. So we can’t go. They’re doing a drama,” he said.
“Obviously they’re scared. All the MPs felt that if the students are on the streets, we should also be on the streets,” he added.
No one can stop us from standing with the students of India.
भारत के छात्रों के साथ खड़े होने से हमें कोई नहीं रोक सकता। pic.twitter.com/ALypCpklbX
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2026
Gandhi said the Opposition had decided to take its protest to the streets in solidarity with the students.
“Our leader Mahatma Gandhi ji was assassinated here. Today, the Modi government is assassinating democracy in India, brutalising students, and beating students. The Opposition is not going to accept this. We are with the students, and Mr Narendra Modi has to remove the Education Minister and apologise,” he told the assembled media from within the bus.
“Our message to the students is that we are with you. The entire Opposition is with you, and we are completely against the atrocities being committed against you.”
After reaching Gandhi Smriti, Gandhi, along with other Opposition MPs, paid tribute to students whose lives were lost due to the NEET paper leak. The visit, the Opposition said, was intended as a gesture of solidarity with students protesting over the issue.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi समेत विपक्ष के सांसदों ने गांधी स्मृति में उन छात्रों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की, जिनकी जान NEET पेपर लीक की वजह से गई।
वे बच्चे हमारी यादों में जिंदा रहेंगे।
हम उनके लिए न्याय की लड़ाई लड़ेंगे। pic.twitter.com/VIcKKZNzkN— Congress (@INCIndia) July 23, 2026
