Rahul Gandhi addresses a gathering during the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' program, in Prayagraj. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Ahead of the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ programme of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) clashed at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) hostel campus.Pune Police has registered a complaint against NSUI students, including Pushkar Abanave, Bhushan Ranabhare, Akshay Jain, Saurabh Amrale, Sagar Dhadve, Prathamesh Abanave and other 50 to 60 NSUI students under BNS Section 115 (2), 189(1), 189(2), 191(2), 351(1), 352, Maharashtra Police Act Section 37 (3), 135.The FIR was filed by ABVP activist Malhar Patil (19), a student from Aundh, at the Shivaji Nagar Police station. Congress youth leader Akshay Jain said, “The FIR has been filed from their side. We have not registered any complaint, police has also not taken any suo motu action on the other group.”The students of both the groups had a verbal spat followed by a clash at the COEP on Friday (August 21, 2026) after a video of a student surfaced, saying that the NSUI volunteers forced students to attend the Congress’s ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event.According to the president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress (Media Department), Akshay Jain, the NSUI students visited the campus to spread the word about the event, where they met the girl who made the video. “The female student raised her issue of pending scholarship, saying that if the issue taken up then we will attend the event. Thereafter, her issue was resolved with ABVP group forcing her to make a video saying that NSUI forced to attend the event.”Police have been deployed in large numbers on the campus following the incident. While ABVP members also alleged that the Congress forced female students to register for Saturday’s (August 22, 2026) event.Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to address the students during the event on Saturday (August 22, 2026) evening.The complaint read, “On August 21, a video statement was taken from a student at the COEP Hostel Shivajinagar Pune under pressure. When I (Malhar Patil) and my colleagues from ABVP went to COEP Hostel Shivajinagar Pune to inquire and discuss, I was abused and beaten up by Pushkar Abanave, Bhushan Ranbhare, Akshay Jain, Saurabh Amrale, Sagar Dhadve, Prathamesh Abanave and 50 to 60 NSUI students.”Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also claimed that ABVP workers has threatened the two female students.In the video, the girl said, “We were manipulated and pressured and that us why I said about the exorbitant fees…so I apologise to the college.”ABVP leader Atharva Kulkarni said that the girl student exposed Congress and that is why 150 NSUI students came to COEP and thrashed the girl. Congress students argued that in a TV clip, the girl spoke in support of the Congress which became a point of contention. “Due to threats she locked herself up in the room so congress protested. Thereafter the clash occurred,” said Mr. Jain.Prathamesh Abnave, vice-president of the 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.” Published - August 22, 2026 11:56 am IST
