Pune: Tensions escalated at the College of Engineering Pune Technological University (COEP) hostel on Friday night, a day before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ student interaction programme in Pune, after members of Congress-NSUI and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) confronted each other.
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Police had reached the hostel premises after students and representatives of both groups gathered and raised slogans. The confrontation centred on two female students who had earlier spoken to the media about scholarship-related concerns and their support for Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with students.
NSUI (National Student Union of India), representatives alleged that ABVP workers entered the hostel premises, threatened the two students and forcibly confined them to their rooms after they spoke publicly about their concerns. They claimed the students were targeted for supporting Rahul Gandhi’s August 22 programme and for recording statements about issues faced by students.
However, ABVP denied the allegations and made counter-charges, claiming that around 100-150 Congress and NSUI workers entered the campus and pressured students, including female students, to attend Rahul Gandhi’s programme. ABVP representatives also alleged that students who intervened were assaulted and demanded action against those responsible.
The allegations made by both sides could not be independently verified.
Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, reached the spot and alleged that two girl students had been threatened and beaten by ABVP members for supporting Rahul Gandhi’s programme. He said the incident amounted to an attempt to suppress students’ freedom of expression and demanded police action.
“Two girl students were threatened and beaten by ABVP for supporting Rahul Gandhi's programme. They are trying to stifle freedom of expression. We want action against those responsible. Even the police beat up the assembled students. If the police do not take action against the guilty, we will stage a sit-in protest,” Wadettiwar said.
As the night progressed, more students and representatives from both organisations arrived at the hostel, leading to further tension. Police personnel attempted to disperse the gathering and bring the situation under control.
NSUI representative Sidhant Jambhulkar alleged that the two students were being forcibly kept inside the premises after they recorded videos and spoke publicly about their scholarship concerns. He also alleged that ABVP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) members had gathered outside the hostel.
The scholarship issue is understood to be linked to concerns among some COEP students who reportedly have not received scholarships for the past three years. The issue was expected to be raised during Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with students in Pune.
Akshay Jain, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress media department, said the incident was “extremely unfortunate” and also claimed that the two female students had only sought to highlight their scholarship-related grievances. He said, “Students should not be dragged into party politics and should be allowed to raise their concerns without fear.”
Maharashtra Assembly member, Harshwardhan Sapkal also condemned the incident and said the safety of the students was the priority. “This incident is unacceptable. Pune is a hub of education and such things happening in an educational institute is not something that we support. We stand against it and condemn this incident,” Sapkal said.
He said the police would investigate the matter and added that Congress leaders would also look into the incident after Rahul Gandhi’s programme. Sapkal alleged that the incident was part of a “fake narrative” by BJP and their supporters which aimed at preventing girl students from attending the event.
