Pune, August 22: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was warmly welcomed by Congress leaders at Pune Airport during his visit on Saturday. Among those present were Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal and several senior leaders. Gandhi is set to participate in the ‘Students’ Echo’ event.
Ahead of the event, tensions have escalated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. BJP MLA Ram Kadam alleged that students are being paid to attend the program, a claim that Congress has vehemently denied.
Speaking to reporters, Kadam stated, “Their situation has deteriorated to the point where students are being paid to attend the event. A rate card has been created based on the number of students brought in. How can there be genuine dialogue with those attending for money? No one is coming to listen to Rahul Gandhi; they are coming only for the money.”
He asserted that these allegations are not baseless, citing videos circulating on social media as evidence. Kadam added, “Now that all their issues have been exhausted, students are being used to generate topics. However, the youth of this country are fully aware that India was the 10th largest economy in the world 12 years ago and is now the fourth largest in terms of nominal GDP.”
In response, Congress leader Yashomati Chandrakant Thakur countered these accusations. “Let me tell you, we do not have any money. Check the accounts of the BJP and ours. Where would our money come from? Congress is filled with enthusiasm, and the students are excited. No one is afraid,” she stated.
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