New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's detention during the party's protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence has triggered a political storm on social media, with videos of Delhi Police taking the Leader of the Opposition into custody dominating conversations on X.

Several videos showed police personnel surrounding Gandhi before escorting him into a police bus during the protest over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and action against students.

While many users condemned the police action and accused the Centre of suppressing dissent, others argued the visuals handed Congress the political optics it had been seeking.

'This is dictatorship': Support pours in

Many users criticised the police action, calling it excessive and undemocratic.

One post that gained traction simply read, 'VISUALS OF POLICE USING FORCE TO DETAIN RAHUL GANDHI. THIS IS DICTATORSHIP.'

Another user wrote, 'Welcome to New India. Paper leak culprits roam freely. Those who question the paper leak are arrested. Criminals are safe, while the police resort to lathi-charge against students. LoP Rahul Gandhi was arrested by the Delhi Police.'

Several others argued that Gandhi was standing up for students demanding accountability over the alleged paper leak.

One viral post said, 'Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi Police while protesting near the Prime Minister's residence, demanding accountability for the police action against students during the Chalo Sansad movement and calling for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Students who marched for their future were met with force. Peaceful voices deserve to be heard, not silenced. History remembers those who stood with the people when it mattered most.'

Another user wrote, 'THIS IS MASSIVE. Rahul Gandhi & other leaders arrested. LoP Rahul Gandhi has appealed every patriotic Indian to join the protest outside the PM residence. The revolution is getting bigger.'

Posts also highlighted the physical nature of the detention. One user said, 'Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi physically dragged from his protest outside the PM's residence and detained along with other Congress leaders.'

Netizens remain divided

Not all reactions were supportive of the Congress leader.

One widely shared post remarked, 'Congress gets the golden TV visuals it wanted. Rahul Gandhi physically evicted from outside PM residence by Delhi Police.' The post suggested the confrontation may have politically benefited the Opposition by generating dramatic visuals.

Another user questioned the police's handling of the protest, writing, 'This is what Delhi Police is doing with Rahul Gandhi. He has been arrested. Did you see Delhi Police doing the same with Dipke?'

Some posts even celebrated Gandhi's resistance during the detention.

A user wrote, 'Even 10 policemen couldn't lift Rahul Gandhi despite trying their best. Look at the policemen struggling and fainting. Rahul Gandhi's martial arts training clearly came in handy. This is what resistance looks like, and he has been standing up to the BJP government since 2014. This is nothing but heroism.'

This is how netizens reacted to Gandhi's detention, with reactions ranging from allegations of authoritarianism and praise for his resistance to claims that the Congress had gained politically from the dramatic scenes. The viral videos have fuelled yet another round of fierce political debate online, reflecting the deeply polarised discourse surrounding the Congress protest and the alleged paper leak controversy.