Journalism of Courage
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi visit NSUI-ABVP clash at Pune’s engineering college
A COEP student’s apology video over remarks on college fees sparked competing allegations by NSUI and ABVP ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s student interaction in Pune.
A video of a COEP student apologising over remarks on college fees triggered a clash between NSUI and ABVP activists in Pune.
Ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Pune event, activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) hurled allegations against each other following a clash at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) on Friday.
The dispute erupted after a video of a COEP student surfaced. In the video, she says that when NSUI and Congress activists visited on August 20, she told a news channel that the college was charging excessive fees from students. “But we were actually manipulated and a pressure was created” due to which I said it….. This was wrong. So I apologize to the college,” the girl student says in the video.
ABVP leader Atharva Kulkarni said, “The girl student’s video exposed the Congress party. Due to it about 150 NSUI activists barged into COEP premises and thrashed girl students. When some boys tried to stop them, the NSUI activists attacked them too.”
Prathamesh Abnave, Vice President of Maharashtra Youth Congress, said, “A girl from COEP had given a byte to the media in the favour of Rahul Gandhi. She has been tortured by ABVP goons. They went to her room and pressurised her. She locked herself in the room. So the Youth Congress reached there and protested. Then there were clashes. ABVP and police were pressurising the Congress workers.”
Congress party claimed one of its activists got injured in the clash and was admitted to a hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Pune city police reached the COEP to control the situation. Several leaders of Congress party also visited the spot. Police were present in the college premises till late night. Rahul Gandhi is coming to Pune for ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ student interaction event on the evening of August 22.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Advertisement
Live Blog
Advertisement