ABVP-NSUI Clash Erupts at COEP Pune Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ Event…
An event titled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Students’ Voice), featuring Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was scheduled for today Saturday, August 22 at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) in Shivajinagar. However, a commotion broke out at the venue before the event could begin. Reports indicate that a clash erupted between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at the college premises prior to the event, heating up the political atmosphere. Following the clash, both groups accused each other of assault. The dispute reportedly stemmed from the filming of a female student at COEP. The ABVP alleged that NSUI members pressured the student, while the NSUI claimed that ABVP members held her captive; this led to a confrontation between the two factions. Tension prevailed on the COEP campus for some time due to the incident. Upon being informed of the dispute, the police arrived at the scene, brought the situation under control, and initiated an investigation. Rahul Gandhi is visiting Pune today for the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event. Subsequently, several leaders—including Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar arrived at the site and staged a sit-in protest, while the BJP Yuva Morcha blocked the road in protest. According to the news agency PTI, a heavy police force was deployed on the campus following the dispute. Reports also suggest that some Congress workers sustained injuries. A case has been registered at the Shivajinagar police station against 50 to 60 individuals, including key office-bearers of the Youth Congress. State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal accused the ABVP of holding students captive in the hostel because they had posted status updates supporting Rahul Gandhi on social media. Sapkal alleged that the ABVP engaged in hooliganism, which included assaulting students and confining them to their rooms in the hostel, describing the actions as extremely serious and shameful. They questioned who gave ABVP goons the right to intimidate students and violate their freedom simply because they had posted a status featuring Rahul Gandhi. They stated that this incident once again exposes the culture of the BJP’s student politics, questioned whether these ABVP goons enjoy state protection, and declared that the Congress party would never bow to such hooliganism that attacks students’ freedom of expression and the liberty of young women.
“Despite Heavy Rain, Rahul Gandhi Connects with Students at ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Dehradun”
Last Friday, the Congress organized the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” program at Bannu Maidan in Dehradun, the state capital. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi participated in the program and interacted with students. Students from Uttarakhand, as well as Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh were present. Despite the inclement weather, there was considerable enthusiasm among activists and students for Rahul Gandhi’s interaction. A large crowd gathered before Rahul Gandhi’s arrival at the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” program, and students from far and wide came to attend. Rahul Gandhi interacted with students at the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” program. He first thanked the youth of Uttarakhand. He expressed his enthusiasm even amid heavy rain, and he said that youth are the identity of the country. Through the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” program, Rahul Gandhi interacted with students regarding irregularities in educational and employment recruitment examinations and the problems faced by youth. This was met with considerable enthusiasm among the youth, and Congress leaders were delighted by the large turnout at the event. The main points of Rahul Gandhi’s address were: Rahul Gandhi said that a young person does not prepare alone; his entire family prepares with him. He said that government jobs are crucial for the middle class, and if a paper is leaked, it can ruin the family. Gandhi said that the manufacturing sector in India is completely shut down, entrepreneurs are in our country, and corporate jobs are also scarce. Along with this, other jobs are also not easily available, hence the only option left for the youth is government jobs.
Rahul Gandhi to Interact with Students, Job Aspirants in Dehradun’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ Program
On July 17, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is visiting Uttarakhand. During this visit, he will participate in the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” (Voice of Students) event organized at the Bannu School grounds in the capital, Dehradun. The primary objective of this event is to establish a direct dialogue with the state’s youth, students, and aspirants preparing for competitive examinations. Rahul Gandhi will listen to the concerns of the youth and seek their views on issues such as unemployment, the education system, alleged irregularities in recruitment exams, and paper leaks. The Congress party states that thousands of youths in Uttarakhand have long been affected by delays in government recruitment processes, exam cancellations, and alleged scams. Consequently, the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event is being viewed as an initiative to amplify the voice of the youth at the national level. The party claims that this dialogue aims to highlight the genuine problems faced by students and aspirants, thereby facilitating a comprehensive discussion on issues concerning their future. However, a deeply tragic incident occurred just a day before Rahul Gandhi’s visit. On July 16, while inspecting the preparations and arrangements at the Bannu School grounds, a Congress worker suddenly fell ill. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead. This incident has cast a pall of gloom over the Congress leaders and workers involved in the event’s preparations. The party has expressed deep grief over the worker’s demise and conveyed its condolences to his family. The organization of this event had been a subject of discussion from the very beginning. According to the initial plan, Rahul Gandhi’s event was scheduled to take place at Dehradun’s Parade Ground, but the administration revoked the permission for the venue. The Congress subsequently protested against this administrative decision and expressed its displeasure. Party leaders stated that the cancellation of permission impacted the event’s preparations. Protesting against the administration’s decision, several senior Congress leaders and workers, including State Congress President Ganesh Godiyal, staged a demonstration. They alleged that unnecessary obstacles were being created regarding opposition events. Following protests, the party made alternative arrangements and shifted the event venue from Parade Ground to Bannu School Ground, where Rahul Gandhi’s program is now being held. Rahul Gandhi’s visit comes at a time when political debate regarding employment, education, and recruitment processes in Uttarakhand is intensifying. While the Congress is attempting to corner the government by linking these issues to the future of the youth, the tragic death of a Congress worker prior to the event has lent an emotional tone to the proceedings. All eyes are now on the message Rahul Gandhi conveys in his address regarding the concerns of the youth and these critical issues facing the state.