Mumbai: Ahead of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress sparred over the event. While BJP MLA Ram Kadam alleged that students were being paid to attend the event, Congress leader Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur retorted by saying “we don’t have money. Look at our accounts.”
Speaking to IANS, Ram Kadam alleged: “Their condition has been reduced to an extent where students are being paid to attend the programme. A rate card has been made that a specific amount will be given to those according to the number of students they are able to bring.”
“So, what kind of conversation will take place with those who are paid money to attend the programmee. Nobody is coming to listen to Rahul Gandhi, they are coming because they are getting paid for that,” he claimed.
The BJP leader claimed that it is not a baseless allegation as “there are videos on social media which can be viewed by people”.
“Now when all their issues are over, students are being used to generate topics. But the country’s students and youth are fully aware that from being the 10th largest global economy in the world, 12 years back, India is now the fourth largest economy (according to nominal GDP),” he asserted.
Countering the allegation, Congress leader Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur said: “Let me tell you one thing, we don’t have money. Look at the BJP’s accounts and look at our accounts. Where will we get the money from? We simply don’t have the money. Congress is full of enthusiasm, the children are full of enthusiasm. No one is afraid.”
Meanwhile, a violent midnight clash erupted between the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the hostel premises of the College of Engineering Pune (COEP), ahead of the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme.
Police sources said that they resorted to a lathicharge to control the situation. Following a complaint filed by ABVP members, the Shivajinagar Police registered cases against 50 to 60 individuals, including six named NSUI and Youth Congress activists.
The tension escalated over student registrations for the event.
NSUI activists had been visiting various college campuses to encourage student participation. However, representatives from NSUI alleged that ABVP members threatened and confined two female students inside the hostel premises for supporting the event.
NSUI and Youth Congress members stated they entered the campus to free the students, after which police charged at them with batons.
The ABVP claimed that members of the NSUI and Youth Congress were forcefully pressuring the hostellers to register and attend the event, leading to the conflict.
(IANS)
