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

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the BJP accused Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi of abusing the privileges of his constitutional office by staging a protest outside Prime Minister 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 ‘joining hands 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 police action against students protesting over 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 was ‘hand in hand 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 who 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 provided funds to him,” he told reporters at the Parliament House complex.

Referring to the protest on Tuesday, July 21, Dubey claimed that his son reached the exam center late due to the demonstration.

“My son came late to the exam due to protest. Is it a crime to be the leader’s son? Isn’t he a student? Isn’t he the one taking the exam?” he said.

Alleging that Mr. Gandhi was trying to control the media, Mr. Dubey said the LoP wanted to divide the country for the sake of political interests.

“By deciding what the media should publish and say today, Rahul Gandhi is trying to do what Indira Gandhi did during the Emergency. 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 said.

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

“As LoP, he enjoys some special privileges. He misused these privileges. What was the purpose of staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence? This reflects the height of frustration and helplessness. It was a directionless and childish policy,” Mr. Rathore told reporters.

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

“First of all, they said they would end the protest if there was a debate in the parliament. When the government agreed, they changed their demands and asked for the resignation of the prime minister. Asking for someone’s resignation is not a joke. Rahul Gandhi is not serious,” he said.

Mr Rathore said BJP workers will stage demonstrations from 2pm on Wednesday, July 22, and ‘pray that common sense prevails’ with the Congress leadership.

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

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

Mr. Sinha also attacked the INDIA bloc, claiming that the opposition alliance lacked unity and that its constituents came together only to protect themselves.