Democracy Crushed in Delhi': TVK Condemns Rahul Gandhi's Detention, Renews NEET Scrap Call

CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has condemned the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest in Delhi, describing it as an assault on democracy and renewing its demand for the NEET medical entrance examination to be scrapped.

In a statement issued after Gandhi's release, the party — led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay — said democracy had been “crushed” in the national capital and criticised the police action against the Leader of the Opposition and protesting students. TVK also reiterated its long-standing opposition to NEET, calling for the examination to be abolished. [Insert exact wording and any further specifics from TVK's statement.

The condemnation followed dramatic scenes in Delhi on Tuesday, where Rahul Gandhi led a sit-in near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, alongside Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Kerala Congress leader V.D. Satheesan. The protesters, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, sat for nearly three hours before police removed them — with visuals showing Gandhi lying on the ground and resisting before being taken to the Chhatrasal Stadium.

An aide said Gandhi suffered an injury below his eye and minor injuries to his hands and legs. After his release, he demanded that Modi apologise to the students, that Pradhan be sacked over the NEET leak and Home Minister Amit Shah resign over the police action, and that the issue be debated in Parliament. Kharge said the forcible removal of the Leader of the Opposition raised troubling questions about the state of democracy.

The government rejected the criticism. Union Minister Jitendra Singh accused Gandhi of shifting his position during negotiations, and said the government was willing to discuss all NEET-related issues in Parliament.

Tamil Nadu has long opposed NEET, arguing that it disadvantages students from state boards and rural backgrounds, and successive state governments have sought exemption from it. The TVK government's renewed call aligns it with that regional consensus and with the student movement now unfolding in Delhi.

The Delhi protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have drawn nationwide attention after Monday's police crackdown near Jantar Mantar left scores injured, including a young student who remains on ventilator support.