Rahul Gandhi released after Delhi protest detention

India's opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was released on Wednesday after being briefly detained outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi.

Police held Gandhi as education system protests pushed into a third day, with demonstrators demanding reforms to the exam process.

Why was Rahul Gandhi detained in Delhi?

Gandhi staged a sit-in outside Modi's residence on Tuesday, accusing the government of ignoring student demands. He also condemned a police crackdown on demonstrations in New Delhi a day earlier.

Police detained him along with other opposition leaders before releasing them the same day.

What is the Cockroach Janta Party protest movement?

The demonstrations are led by the Cockroach Janta Party, a social media-driven movement that has attracted millions of followers since its launch in May. It has emerged as one of the biggest challenges to Modi's government since he secured a third term in 2024. Protesters are demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and broader reforms to the examination system.

Pradhan responded late Tuesday, saying the government remained committed to change. "We owe them (students) answers, reforms and accountability," he wrote in a social media post, his first comments since Monday's street protest. "That is exactly what our government remains committed to delivering," he said.

On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters remained camped at Delhi's Jantar Mantar site as the party vowed to continue its campaign. "Cockroaches are alive," it said in a social media post, describing Pradhan as "incompetent."

How did the Delhi protests turn violent?

Monday's protest turned violent when demonstrators hurled stones at security forces. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges in what became the capital's largest protests in five years. Sixty civilians were injured, along with 118 police personnel. Protests also spread to Mumbai and Bengaluru, where hundreds gathered in support.

What triggered India's exam system protests?

The unrest follows a series of controversies that have damaged trust in India's testing system. A leaked medical entrance exam paper forced more than two million candidates to retake the test. A separate dispute over the online marking of exams taken by nearly two million high school students has further fueled public anger.