NEW DELHI: The fourth event of Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme kicked off in Pune on Saturday. The Congress leader is set to address a large women’s rally at the AISSMS College Ground in Pune, Maharashtra.
In his address, he invoked a verse from the Manusmriti and contrasted it with his call for the empowerment and autonomy of women. Referring to the verse, he highlighted the notion that, “A woman in her childhood belongs to her father, after marriage belongs to her husband and in her old age belongs to her son.”
Rejecting this idea, he asserted that a woman belongs to no one but herself. While acknowledging that the relationships in a woman’s life are important, he stressed that they do not determine her identity or ownership, which, he said, rests exclusively with her.
However, the event follows a political storm and clashes between student organisations. The programme was preceded by a midnight clash between the NSUI and ABVP at the COEP Technological University hostel.
It happened after ABVP claimed that female students were being forced to attend the event. Meanwhile, Congress leaders countered the claims, saying two female students, who had earlier expressed their support for the event, were threatened and confined inside the hostel.
BJP has also accused Congress of paying influencers and manufacturing crowds for the event. Meanwhile, Congress has alleged that the ruling establishment was attempting to disrupt Rahul Gandhi’s student outreach.
NSUI-ABVP clash erupts at COEP hostel
Tensions escalated on Friday night when NSUI and ABVP members clashed at the COEP hostel campus ahead of the LoP’s interaction. Police resorted to a lathi charge to control the situation, while several injured activists were taken to Sancheti Hospital.
According to police sources cited in the material, the Shivajinagar Police registered cases against 50 to 60 people, including six named NSUI and Youth Congress activists, following a complaint by an ABVP member.
The confrontation reportedly centred on student participation in LoP Rahul Gandhi’s programme. NSUI activists said they were responding to distress calls from female students, while ABVP alleged that Congress-linked workers were forcibly encouraging hostellers to register for the event.
Congress alleges female students were intimidated
Congress leaders accused ABVP workers of entering the girls’ hostel and intimidating students who had expressed support for the event.
Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that a female student was cornered and forced to apologise on camera. NSUI state president Sagar Salunke claimed that students had called the organisation for help and alleged that CCTV cameras had been switched off before NSUI members arrived.
Salunke also alleged that students, including orphaned students, had been pressured to record videos praising the college administration. The case registered by police followed a complaint from 21-year-old student Malhar Nilesh Patil, who alleged that a student’s video statement had been recorded under pressure at the hostel.
Pawan Khera alleges conspiracy to disrupt event
Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that there had been a conspiracy to disrupt LoP’s Pune programme, claiming that the response among young people had rattled those in power.
Khera linked the controversy to the issues female students were expected to raise with Rahul, including alleged diversion of scholarship funds. He accused ABVP workers of intimidating students and said the incident reflected an attempt to keep women away from public decision-making.
He also invoked Pune’s history as the city where Savitribai Phule pioneered women’s education, arguing that the theme of the event was particularly relevant to the city.
BJP calls event ‘Paise Ki Goonj’
The BJP launched a separate attack on the programme, accusing the Congress of paying influencers to mobilise attendance and promote Rahul Gandhi’s event on social media.
BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that influencers were being offered Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 each, along with travel expenses, and claimed that the overall expenditure could reach Rs 9 crore to Rs 10 crore if around 3,000 people were paid.
Ban dubbed the programme ‘Paise Ki Goonj’ instead of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ and demanded an investigation into the source of the alleged funds. BJP leader Keshav Upadhyay separately accused Rahul Gandhi of using student issues as a political platform.
Congress hits back, says BJP ‘rattled’ by youth response
The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegations and accused it of trying to create obstacles to LoP Rahul Gandhi’s programme because of his growing support among young people.
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant claimed that the BJP was particularly apprehensive about Rahul’s appeal among Gen Z and alleged that authorities and ABVP members had attempted to disrupt the programme.
NCP (SP) leader Mahesh Tapase also criticised the BJP, saying there was no reason to oppose a programme focused on issues affecting students and young people.
What is ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ about?
Rahul’s Pune interaction with female students is centred on student and youth concerns, with issues such as paper leaks, unemployment and the education system expected to feature in the programme.
The Congress has sought to position the initiative as a platform for students to directly raise their concerns, while the BJP has characterised it as a political campaign by the Leader of the Opposition. The Pune event, therefore, has begun against the backdrop of an escalating political battle over who controls the narrative around student and youth concerns.
Courtesy : TOI
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