Congress BJP cadres engage in violent clashes over NEET protests

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy addressed a dharna at Ambedkar Chowrasta in Kodangal on Wednesday (July 22). | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Telangana witnessed intense political activity on Wednesday as the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest against the alleged NEET paper leak sparked demonstrations across the state, leading to clashes between Congress and BJP workers at several places.

The protests turned violent in parts of Hyderabad, Warangal and Karimnagar where Congress and BJP workers confronted each other during rallies and demonstrations. The police intervened in several places to prevent the situation from escalating and to disperse the rival groups.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy led a separate protest in his Kodangal assembly constituency, condemning the detention of Rahul Gandhi and accusing the Center of trying to suppress democratic protests.

He alleged that BJP leaders had amassed huge wealth through a series of paper leaks and asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not remove Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “If no action is taken, it will be interpreted as Mr. Modi supporting Mr. Pradhan,” he said.

Alleging that students protesting against the paper leak were subjected to “brutal” police action, the chief minister alleged that several were injured and some were missing after the protests. Referring to the alleged attack on Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Reddy said that the Gandhi family is known for sacrificing for the nation.

TPCC protests

A Congress cadre led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President B. Mahesh Kumar Gouda staged a protest at the Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad against the ‘attack’ on Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Senior officials including Ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Damodar Rajanarsimha, Mohd Azharuddin, Vivek Venkatswamy; MLAs Danam Nagender and Naveen Yadav; senior leaders Shabbir Ali, Balmoor Venkat and Rohin Reddy joined the protest along with a large number of cadres.

Mr. Mahesh Goud accused the Center of running a police paradise. “Why is Dharmendra Pradhan being spared by PM Modi?” he asked. Police detained the leaders and cadre at Lok Bhavan and shifted them to various police stations.

Bhatti protests

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka led the protests in Hanamkonda, which was joined by Konda Minister Surekha, MLA Nayini Rajender Reddy. Mr Vikramarka said it had become a culture for the BJP to suppress opposition voices whenever they stood up for human rights.

TPCC working president and three-time MLA T. Jagga Reddy warned that if the BJP wants to attack Congress offices, the Congress can also intervene. He warned BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao to be responsible rather than provocative. “The BJP should first apologize to the students,” he said.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar led a dharna at Husnabad in Karimnagar district and said the party would intensify its campaign to support students and youth across the country. He called on party workers and the public to unite against the BJP government and asserted that the movement would continue until “justice is given to the students and accountability is established”.

Published – 22 July 2026 14:00 IST