Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and other Congress party members were detained by police during a rally outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. The detention came a day after dozens of youth protesters were arrested during a march to parliament.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which organized the protests, called off a planned demonstration outside police headquarters after authorities released all detained students. The party hailed the release as a "huge victory" on social media.
Gandhi had called for Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to resign over Monday's police crackdown on youth protesters. He accused the government of running a "dictatorship" and refusing to address youth concerns in parliament.
The Indian parliament was adjourned for a second consecutive day as opposition lawmakers demanded a discussion on exam paper leaks and other issues plaguing the education system.
In Sikkim state, a suspected gas explosion caused a tunnel collapse, killing at least 10 people and leaving 17 others trapped. Rescue efforts are hampered by hazardous gases inside the tunnel.
India summoned a senior Russian diplomat to protest the killing of four Indian seafarers in an attack on a cargo ship leaving Ukraine's Odesa port. Russia claimed the ship was carrying weapons for the Kyiv regime.
The CJP movement, which began as an online satire two months ago, has galvanized thousands demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over repeated exam paper leaks, including the NEET medical entrance exam, which forced over 2 million students to retake the test.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28 in support of the students, was forcibly removed from the protest site and hospitalized. The Delhi High Court ordered his transfer to a private hospital, but he vowed to continue his fast.
Prime Minister Modi, who has remained silent on the protests, told coalition lawmakers that strong action had been taken against those involved in the paper leaks, including 13 arrests and a re-examination.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologized for police violence against protesters, especially women, and said the movement would not hold another march to parliament to avoid further injuries. The sit-in at Jantar Mantar continues.
Source: www.dw.com