NEET: Congress, BJP workers detained during rival protests in Bengaluru

Youth Congress members burnt an effigy of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday. | Photo credit: special arrangement

Bengaluru police on Wednesday detained several Congress workers after they gathered outside the state BJP headquarters in Malleswaram and tried to stage a protest in defiance of the restrictions imposed under Supreme Court directions.

BJP leaders led by Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok staged a counter-protest outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office on Queen’s Road. The police also detained Mr. Ashok and other BJP workers, saying the demonstration violated the same Supreme Court restrictions on public protests. They were taken to High Grounds Police Station and later released.

Slogans against the prime minister

At the Congress protest, party workers held placards, raised slogans and reportedly tried to surround the BJP office. They protested against irregularities in the National Entrance Eligibility Test (NEET), police lathi-charge against protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders. Youth Congress members burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

The police intervened and took the protesters into preventive custody, citing Supreme Court orders that allow public protests only at the designated protest site, Freedom Park. Security has been tightened in and around the BJP headquarters and barricades have been erected to prevent any breach of law and order.

The BJP blames the attack

BJP leader R. Ashok and others walk towards the KPCC office to stage a protest against the Congress government in Bengaluru on July 22, 2026. | Photo credit: special arrangement

After staging a protest outside the KPCC office, Mr. Ashok submitted a petition to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner alleging that Congress workers assaulted BJP leaders. He alleged that eggs, iron rods and clubs were used in the attack and claimed that even a police bus carrying detained BJP workers to the police station was targeted. Miscreants threw eggs at BJP MLA BP Harish, BJP said.

In his complaint, Mr. Ashok demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible. After the preventive arrests, the situation remained under control, and a strong police presence continued in the area.

Published – 22 July 2026 23:30 IST