WATCH: Youth is India’s greatest strength, asserts Rahul at Pune’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday interacted with students at the fourth edition of his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune, telling the gathering that the youth were India’s greatest strength.

A large number of students from Maharashtra attended the programme, which was held against the backdrop of student protests in Delhi and recent tensions at the College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) hostel.

Gandhi spoke with young participants on a range of issues concerning students and the country during the interaction.

The Congress had been preparing for the Pune programme for several days, with senior party leaders from Maharashtra camping in the city ahead of the event.

The programme was part of Gandhi’s ongoing ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ initiative, through which he has been interacting with students and discussing issues affecting young people.

The Pune event was also held amid allegations by Congress leaders that female students had been intimidated at the COEP hostel ahead of the programme. The allegations followed a clash between ABVP and NSUI members at the campus on Friday.

Gandhi’s interaction with students comes after he met student protesters in Delhi earlier this month and heard their accounts of alleged police excesses during a July 20 protest.

The Congress has positioned the programme as a platform for young people, particularly students, to raise concerns and engage directly with the Opposition leader.