JAMMU, July 22: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra, along with several senior party leaders and workers, was detained by police on Tuesday evening during a protest outside Lok Bhavan in Jammu against the detention of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders in New Delhi.
The protest was organised after reports emerged of Delhi Police detaining Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress MPs during a demonstration over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
Led by Karra, Congress leaders and workers marched to Lok Bhavan in the Panjtirthi area, raising slogans against the Central Government and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Police intervened during the demonstration and detained Karra, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, former minister Lal Singh, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and dozens of party leaders and activists. They were later taken to the Police Lines, officials said.
Speaking to reporters before his detention, Karra criticised the alleged police action against student protesters in Delhi, calling it an assault on democratic values.
He alleged that the use of force, including baton charges and tear gas, against protesters reflected an “authoritarian mindset” and claimed the situation resembled “police rule” rather than a functioning democracy.
Referring to the detention of Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders during the protest near the Prime Minister’s residence, Karra described the action as “a black stain on India’s democracy” and expressed concern over the treatment of the party leadership.
He also accused the Central Government of preventing a discussion in Parliament on the alleged police action against students protesting the NEET issue, saying Parliament should serve as a forum to debate matters of public importance.
Demanding accountability, Karra called for a detailed parliamentary discussion on the alleged use of force against protesters and sought action against those responsible.
Launching a broader attack on the Union Government, the JKPCC chief alleged increasing misuse of authority and warned the Jammu and Kashmir administration against adopting similar measures in the Union Territory. He asserted that such actions would not be accepted by the people for long.
