On the afternoon of 21 July 2026, Delhi Police removed opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, from a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence over the police action on student protesters. That evening SP and Congress workers protested in several Uttar Pradesh cities. Police detained protesters at the BHU gate in Varanasi after a scuffle, and moved workers off the road in Mathura and Agra. The leaders were released the same night.
Key takeaways
- On 21 July 2026 Delhi Police removed Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav from a sit-in at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where they were demanding accountability for the 20 July police action on students.
- In Varanasi, SP workers blocked the road at the main gate of Banaras Hindu University. Police scuffled with them and detained several, and the university gate was closed.
- In Mathura, police removed SP workers from Holi Gate citing lack of permission, and confined Congress workers to their office; workers alleged police came carrying hockey sticks.
- In Agra, SP workers blocked Fatehabad Road outside the party office and Congress workers sat on MG Road; police deployed extra forces.
- Tensions eased after the leaders were released the same night.
Background: the sit-in outside the PM's residence
A day after police stopped the Cockroach Janta Party's march on Parliament with lathi charges and tear gas, opposition leaders marched from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's home at 10 Rajaji Marg to the Prime Minister's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Rahul Gandhi had posted: "I ask every patriotic Indian who believes our students deserve justice - join us in dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence." IANS via Morung Express The 20 July events are on our page Police action at the 20 July march.
Police removed the leaders from the high-security zone and took them away in vans. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, sent to negotiate, said Rahul Gandhi first agreed to the government's assurances and then backtracked; the Congress said talks were inconclusive. IANS via Morung Express Government's position Singh said Gandhi was told the location was not "suitable for a sit-in". AP/PBS The leaders were released after a few hours. DT Next
The protests in Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi: detentions at the BHU gate
SP workers gathered at the main gate (Singhdwar) of Banaras Hindu University in the Prime Minister's constituency and sat on the road, blocking traffic. Police tried to remove them, there was pushing and shoving, and police then detained several protesters and put them in police vehicles. Police sent BHU students who came to the gate back inside and shut it. Police from several stations and the PAC were deployed, and officers said the situation was fully under control. Navbharat (Hindi)
Mathura: Holi Gate
Police stopped Congress and SP workers, citing the lack of permission. Congress workers were kept under watch inside their office. At Holi Gate police removed SP workers from the road, with arguments and some pulling. Claim · SP workers They alleged police arrived carrying hockey sticks and used unnecessary force. Police position Police said a protest could not be held in a public place without permission and that they acted to maintain order. Workers calmed down once the leaders were released. Navbharat (Hindi)
Agra: road blockades
Congress workers sat on MG Road at Rajamandi crossing, and SP workers blocked Fatehabad Road outside the SP office in Tajganj, demanding the leaders' release and vowing to stay overnight. Tajganj police tried to persuade them to leave, and extra forces were deployed in sensitive areas. Navbharat (Hindi)
What the footage shows
Claim · circulating videos A few short clips from Uttar Pradesh dated 21 July have circulated online. The captions do not name the city. Going by them, they show police forcibly dragging Samajwadi Party members, and dragging some into detention, during a protest against Akhilesh Yadav's detention in Delhi. We have not verified each clip, and captions are not findings of fact.
News reports confirm pushing, shoving and detentions of SP workers at Varanasi's BHU gate and physical removal at Mathura's Holi Gate on that evening. We could not match individual clips to a particular city.
Protesters' account
SP and Congress workers say they were protesting democratically against the detention of their leaders, who had themselves been protesting police action on students. They also demanded the Education Minister's resignation over the paper leak. In Mathura they alleged excessive force. Navbharat Navbharat
Outcome
- Leaders: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav were released after a few hours. DT Next
- Detentions in UP: Several SP workers were detained in Varanasi. No total for the state was reported. Navbharat
- Cases: We found no report of FIRs against SP workers over the 21 July protests.
- Injuries: None were reported.
Questions people ask
Why was Akhilesh Yadav detained on 21 July 2026?
He joined Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi at a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence over the police action on student protesters. Delhi Police removed them from the high-security area and released them a few hours later.
Where did SP workers protest in UP?
Reports describe protests at the BHU gate in Varanasi, at Holi Gate in Mathura and on Fatehabad Road in Agra.
Were SP workers detained?
Yes. In Varanasi police detained several workers after a scuffle at the BHU gate. In Mathura they were removed from the road.
Sources
- IANS via Morung Express: Rahul Gandhi detained, Priyanka and Akhilesh Yadav removed from protest site, 21 Jul 2026
- AP via PBS: India's youth-led Cockroach movement vows to continue protest, 21 Jul 2026
- Navbharat: Protest in Mathura over Rahul and Akhilesh detention (Hindi), 22 Jul 2026
- Navbharat: Congress and SP workers protest in Agra (Hindi), 22 Jul 2026
- Navbharat: SP workers protest at BHU gate, Varanasi (Hindi), 22 Jul 2026
- DT Next: SFI, DYFI workers detained in Chennai, 22 Jul 2026