BJP and Congress Stage Rival Protests in Jaipur, Police Use Water Cannons
Jaipur witnessed high political drama on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress held competing protests, each targeting the other party's state headquarters. The demonstrations, marked by heavy police deployment and the use of water cannons, led to traffic disruptions and minor injuries among protesters.
The BJP's march, led by state president Madan Rathore, aimed to lay siege to the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on Sansar Chandra Road. Party workers alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi violated constitutional decorum during the Opposition's protest outside the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi. Police stopped the BJP procession using barricades and water cannons after a scuffle broke out when workers attempted to push forward. Rathore criticised Congress's political demonstrations, stating that the public would not tolerate what he described as 'undignified conduct' by Rahul Gandhi.
In response, Congress leaders dismissed the BJP march as an 'audacity despite being in the wrong' and announced a counter-march to lay siege to the BJP's state headquarters on Sardar Patel Marg. The Congress protest, held in the evening, escalated political tensions in the state capital. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, and former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas led the march. Protesters raised slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak issue and condemning the alleged 'brutality' against Rahul Gandhi and students in New Delhi.
Police stopped the Congress workers near the Police Commissionerate, where another scuffle occurred and water cannons were deployed to disperse the crowd. A few party workers, injured in the police action, were taken to a hospital for primary aid. Traffic on major city roads was disrupted during both marches.
Security arrangements were intensified across Jaipur, with heavy barricades placed around party offices and drone surveillance used to monitor sensitive areas. Police also implemented traffic diversions to prevent direct confrontations between the two party groups.
