BJP claims students were paid to attend Rahul’s Pune event; Congress dismisses claim

Mumbai: The BJP and Congress exchanged allegations on Saturday over Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune, with the ruling party claiming that students were being offered money to attend the event.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam alleged that Congress workers had prepared a “rate card” to pay people based on the number of students they brought to the programme.

He claimed that attendees were not coming to hear Rahul Gandhi but were being drawn by monetary incentives. Kadam said videos circulating on social media supported his allegation, though he did not provide further details.

The BJP leader also accused the Congress of attempting to use students to create political issues, and said the country’s youth were aware of India’s economic progress over the past 12 years.

Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur rejected the charge, saying her party did not have the financial resources to pay students.

“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” she said, adding that the response to the programme was driven by enthusiasm among students and Congress workers.

Meanwhile, tension flared at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) hostel late Friday night, where members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed ahead of the event.

Police intervened and reportedly used lathis to bring the situation under control. Based on a complaint from ABVP members, Shivajinagar Police registered a case against around 50 to 60 people, including six identified NSUI and Youth Congress activists.

The dispute reportedly began over student registration for Rahul Gandhi’s programme.

NSUI workers had been visiting campuses to mobilise students for the gathering. The organisation alleged that ABVP members threatened and confined two female students inside the hostel because they supported the event.

NSUI and Youth Congress activists said they entered the campus to help the students, following which police resorted to a lathicharge.

ABVP, however, alleged that NSUI and Youth Congress workers were pressuring hostel residents to register for and attend the programme, leading to the confrontation.

(Inputs from IANS)