MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and Student Leader Nirmal Chaudhary Pulled Out of Rajasthan University Exam Hall by Police; Congress Warns of Statewide Agitation, Labels BJP Action a "Murder of Democracy"
Jaipur: In a stunning political flashpoint, Rajasthan Police on Saturday detained Congress MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and Rajasthan University student union president Nirmal Chaudhary from inside an active examination hall during postgraduate semester exams, triggering a political firestorm across the state.
The incident was captured on video and posted by MLA Poonia on his official Twitter account, where he fiercely condemned the act as a blatant violation of democratic rights and student dignity.
"The police have shown cowardice by arresting me and my brother, Nirmal Chaudhary, from the Rajasthan University campus. Has raising the voice of the common man become a crime under the cruel rule of the BJP?"
— Abhimanyu Poonia, Congress MLA, on Twitter
According to reports, Poonia was writing his paper like every other student when suddenly a police team entered the campus, pulled him out of the exam hall, and whisked him away in a jeep. The detentions were conducted without clear justification, and the police have yet to issue an official statement explaining the reasons.
Political Earthquake: Top Congress Leaders Slam BJP Government
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress high command, with multiple leaders decrying the BJP’s "authoritarianism."
“Detaining MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and student leader Nirmal Chaudhary while giving their exam is unjust and a blatant violation of democracy,”
— Ashok Gehlot, Former Rajasthan CM
Congress heavyweight and former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot also lashed out at the BJP government:
“I strongly condemn the forcible detention of Abhimanyu Poonia and Nirmal Chaudhary from the examination center. BJP is trying to suppress the voice of youth and students in an undemocratic way — this is completely unacceptable.”
Even Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasara took to social media, writing:
“Forcibly detaining Rajasthan Youth Congress President and MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and student leader Nirmal Chaudhary from the examination center is undemocratic and extremely shameful.”
Congress Threatens Statewide Protest
The Congress has warned of statewide protests if the detained leaders are not released immediately.
“The BJP government is trying to crush elected representatives and student power in an authoritarian manner. If they are not released soon, Congress will take to the streets in protest,”
— Govind Singh Dotasara
A case has been registered, but no further police briefing has clarified the legal grounds or exact charges behind the detentions. The act of arresting a sitting MLA and a student leader from an academic campus, especially during an ongoing examination — has fueled intense debate over the shrinking space for student activism and democratic dissent.
Political observers see this incident as a critical moment ahead of the state elections, showcasing the rising tension between BJP's state machinery and the youth-driven Congress opposition.
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