Pune, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A clash broke out between activists of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at the hostel premises of the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) late Friday night, hours before Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ student interaction.
Police resorted to a lathicharge to bring the situation under control. Following a complaint by ABVP members, the Shivajinagar Police registered cases against 50 to 60 people, including six named NSUI and Youth Congress activists.
The dispute reportedly began over student registrations for Gandhi’s upcoming programme. NSUI activists had been visiting college campuses to encourage students to attend the event.
NSUI and Youth Congress members alleged that ABVP activists had threatened and confined two female students inside the hostel after they expressed support for the programme. They claimed they entered the campus to help the students and were subsequently subjected to a police baton charge.
The ABVP, however, alleged that NSUI and Youth Congress members were forcibly pressuring hostel residents to register for and attend the event, leading to the confrontation.
Several injured activists were taken to Sancheti Hospital for treatment. Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar and other party leaders also reached the COEP campus around midnight and staged a dharna protesting the police action. Heavy police deployment was subsequently made around the campus and hostel premises.
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat condemned the alleged baton charge and the actions attributed to ABVP members. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal also criticised the incident, saying attempts to intimidate students would not weaken the party’s campaign.
The ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme is expected to focus on student-related issues, including paper leaks, unemployment and the education system.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that the programme was a funded political campaign rather than a spontaneous student gathering. Addressing a press conference, he claimed that social media influencers were being offered Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 to attend and promote the event online.
Ban further alleged that around Rs 9 crore was being spent on the programme to politically “relaunch” Rahul Gandhi. Congress has rejected such allegations and maintained that the event is aimed at raising student concerns.
FOLLOW NOW
