Political row erupts over Rahul Gandhi's Pune youth event
A student interaction programme addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Pune on Saturday has triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides trading accusations over the event's authenticity and political motives.
The event, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', was part of Gandhi's youth outreach as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. At the gathering, Gandhi spoke against patriarchy, urged women to "smash the prevailing patriarchy", and described women as the country's "greatest asset", arguing that their identities should not be restricted to their relationships with men, as reported by several news outlets.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was speaking at his own youth-focused 'Manthan4Yuva' programme in Nagpur on Sunday, called Gandhi's event a political "relaunch" and accused the Congress of using handpicked participants and paid influencers. Citing an event management company handling the programme, Fadnavis claimed that students were brought from colleges associated with Congress leaders, with musical events held before Gandhi's appearance and 7,000 to 8,000 chairs arranged. He alleged that influencers were "being given money, ₹30,000 each" to show only positive things, and referred to messages offering students money and transport to attend.
Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Navnath Ban separately alleged that the Congress was paying individuals ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 to attend the event, dubbing it "Paise Ki Goonj", an "echo of money". Fadnavis said Ban's allegations were based on evidence and that verification would be done. He also linked a Friday face-off between student wings of the BJP and Congress at the COEP campus to Gandhi's programme, alleging that Congress workers created a ruckus to generate publicity in what he called an "event-related, well-planned conspiracy".
BJP Maharashtra vice-president Keshav Upadhye termed Gandhi's interaction a "political comedy show", accusing him of making political statements instead of addressing student concerns. Upadhye claimed that students were brought in college buses to attend the programme and alleged a contradiction between Gandhi's statements and the Congress's past actions. He questioned the party's stand on women's reservation, citing its alleged opposition to Droupadi Murmu's presidential candidacy and the triple talaq law. "While searching for Manuwad, the Congress should first look in the mirror," he said. He attributed the Congress's tactics to "frustration over losing power, anger over electoral defeats and fear of Modi".
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused Gandhi of "cheap sensationalism" and lacking "vision or positive agenda", saying he was trying to mislead the nation with baseless remarks. She listed NDA government achievements for women, including over 50% of Jan Dhan accounts held by women, two-thirds of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries being women, more than 10 crore women receiving LPG cylinders, the first batch of women cadets graduating from the National Defence Academy, and 48% of start-ups having women in leadership. She questioned why the Congress blocked the passage of the 33% reservation for women under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, calling the issue a "political gimmick" for the Congress and alleging that the party sees women only as a vote bank.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also weighed in, describing criticism of the central government at the event as misplaced. He cited a 44% increase in higher education enrolment and nearly 50% women among pilots and aeronautical engineers in defence, asking why Gandhi opposed the 33% reservation for women. Joshi called Gandhi "the most irresponsible, immature, part-time leader".
Fadnavis echoed the charge, saying Gandhi talks about women's empowerment on stage but opposed the Women's Reservation Bill. "Coming to Pune to talk about women and then opposing the very bill that would give them real power, that's Rahul Gandhi's hypocritical stand," he said, using a Hindi idiom to suggest the stance was all show. He labelled the Congress a "directionless party of show-offs and loudmouths".
Congress hits back, alleges BJP rattled
Congress national secretary Sachin Sawant hit back, saying the BJP was rattled by the response to Gandhi's event and had lost sleep over his growing appeal among youngsters. He claimed that despite "shutting down the metro, imposing several restrictions and resorting to hooliganism", a huge number of young women turned up. Sawant took a swipe at Fadnavis's "Youth Icon" image, wondering if his interaction with Gen Z would preach patriarchal values. "Perhaps the chief minister will tell them about the importance of Manusmriti," he said.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal said the BJP had "sensed the ground slipping under its feet" and was trying to hold on through a communal agenda, but that it would backfire. BJP media cell in-charge Navnath Ban challenged the Congress to name Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as party chief.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut joined the Congress's defence, suggesting that Fadnavis and other BJP leaders should hang photos of Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijit Dipke in their offices, because "because of him, they realised that there is a Gen Z". Raut questioned the BJP's criticism by asking what the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, which paid Rs 1,500 per month to women ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, should be called if Gandhi's event was a paid programme. Raut's remarks came as Fadnavis attended the 'Manthan 4 Yuva' event in Nagpur, where he claimed 20,000 to 25,000 people attended and around 4,100 participated in a dhol-tasha performance that set a world record. He also said the power of India's democracy and Constitution enabled an ordinary individual like him to rise to the state's highest office.
The spat unfolded against the backdrop of heightened political attention to youth following the Jantar Mantar protest over an alleged NEET paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with both parties vying to connect with Gen-Z voters.