Pune: ABVP, Congress Clash at COEP Hostel

A clash between Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students' Union of India (NSUI)-Youth Congress workers at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) Technological University hostel has sparked a political blame game. The incident occurred ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Pune.

The dispute began after a video of a female COEP student surfaced, in which she apologised for remarks about alleged excess fees at the college. The student later released another video saying she was not associated with politics and should not be dragged into the political dispute.

The ABVP alleged that Congress and NSUI workers were pressuring students to attend Gandhi's programme and had used inducements and threats. They claimed that three students were pressured after refusing to attend the programme, leading to an altercation at the hostel. The ABVP also alleged that Congress workers entered the campus and attacked students after one of them spoke about the alleged pressure.

However, the Congress has rejected the allegations. Akshay Jain of the Youth Congress said that the ABVP had initiated the confrontation and that the girl was under pressure and stress due to ABVP people meeting and putting her under pressure. He denied that the confrontation was linked to pressure allegedly exerted by NSUI or Congress leaders and questioned the version being circulated by the ABVP.

The Congress has also alleged that ABVP members had pressured and threatened the female student after she spoke in support of Gandhi's programme. An FIR was registered at Shivajinagar police station on a complaint by ABVP office-bearer Malhar Patil against several NSUI and Congress workers. Police invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to causing hurt, rioting and criminal intimidation.

Police officials have confirmed that counter-complaints were also registered. The police are investigating the incident and have registered cases based on complaints from both sides.

The incident has raised concerns about the politicisation of educational institutions. The ABVP has demanded strict legal action against those who threatened or assaulted students and said educational institutions should remain free from political pressure.

The Congress has said that it will take legal action against the ABVP over what it terms a false narrative. The party has requested the Pune police commissioner to release the actual CCTV footage of the night to show who is at fault.

The incident is a significant development in the ongoing political landscape of Pune. The city has seen a surge in political activity in recent times, with various parties and organisations vying for influence.

The clash between ABVP and Congress workers at the COEP hostel is a reflection of the intense political rivalry in the city. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the role of politics in educational institutions and the need to maintain a safe and secure environment for students.

In conclusion, the clash between ABVP and Congress workers at the COEP hostel in Pune has raised important questions about the politicisation of educational institutions and the need to protect students from political pressure. The incident is a significant development in the ongoing political landscape of Pune and highlights the need for political parties and organisations to respect the autonomy of educational institutions.