00:00But we are not done with Gen Z just yet because what about the Congress party?
00:04We spoke about BJP, we spoke about the principal opposition in UPSP, but what about Rahul Gandhi?
00:11Well, the opposition's Gen Z outreach is taking a more direct route with him
00:14because continuing his engagement with students, every day there is a new statement that comes out.
00:20Now, the Pune police have cleared Rahul Gandhi's Chhatro Ki Goonch program
00:25but with a detailed set of conditions focused on crowd control and law in order.
00:30The organisers who are holding this, the Congress party really, have been told to prevent overcrowding,
00:36maintain order at the venue and ensure that there is no situation that develops
00:40that could create a law in order situation.
00:42What is the background to the story?
00:43Rahul Gandhi wanted to have this Chhatro Ki Goonch in that city and the administration
00:49and they could not come on the same terms on where and when will this be given.
00:54There were permission issues and a lot of other stuff that followed.
00:57But objectionable images and banners have also been prohibited
01:01while the organisers have been made responsible directly for any untoward incident linked to the programme.
01:08But Rahul Gandhi's larger pitch is going beyond the event itself
01:11and directly into the political battle over who understands young India better.
01:16Now, in the latest attack on the RSS and the BJP, Rahul Gandhi accused them of believing they understand students
01:22while in his words, controlling the system and attacking the system is what they know best.
01:29And that is the message at the heart of his student outreach.
01:33Not speaking for students, he says, but listening to them.
01:36With parties increasingly competing for Gen Z attention, like we just told you,
01:41Rahul Gandhi is seeking to position that direct student contact as a political advantage.
01:49The real fight is that a group of people have suddenly decided
01:57because they have control of the system
02:00that they know the truth of everybody in this country.
02:08When Mr. Narendra Modi says, I forgive the students.
02:14Yeah, please, I forgive you.
02:17Meaning what?
02:18You are a bunch of jokers.
02:20I am very smart.
02:22I know everything.
02:23You don't understand everything.
02:25And I forgive you.
02:34Then suddenly they got scared.
02:36And Mohan Bhagwadji says, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
02:39We should not attack the students.
02:40You are attacking the students every day because you believe you know the truth.
02:46All right.
02:47So that was Rahul Gandhi in Pune.
02:48Let's again get a ground perspective there with my colleague Omkar Wable joining us with the very latest.
02:54Omkar, help me understand this.
02:57Rahul Gandhi's entire event, you know, they've been a series of them now in different places.
03:02He's had live interactions.
03:04Every speech has run into some controversy.
03:07It could be the hug incident.
03:09It could be in this case about, you know, forgiving, etc.
03:12But when an event like this, a political event like this,
03:16which is not a rally, which seems like an interaction is set up,
03:19who are the kind of people in the audience?
03:21I've always been curious.
03:23When rallies are held, it's mostly party workers.
03:25And we all know, you know, in a country like India, people are paid to go and attend that rally.
03:30How are, what is the set up behind these meet and greets that Rahul Gandhi is really holding?
03:38Well, nowadays Congress is urging youngsters to enroll for this program and that is how the enrollment process is going
03:45on right now.
03:45But the interesting thing is, it is very clear, every politician wants to encash the votes of Generation Z and
03:54that is how they are approaching this generation.
03:56So that is why even Rahul Gandhi has organized Chhatrofi Gould.
04:00It will be an interactive program in Pune.
04:02So, interesting part of it is, when Pune Congress tried to approach local police for the permission,
04:09police have given the permission along with 30 different terms and conditions.
04:13So, there are different conditions regarding mob and organizing program.
04:19But now it is very clear that there should be no derogatory or any provocative remarks made by the speaker
04:31during this program.
04:32So, every time controversy, Rahul Gandhi says something.
04:36So, now Congress, all Congress leaders are seriously alleging that government is using the shoulder of the police to shut
04:44us down.
04:45And even now, Gandhi is saying there is one system, there is one man who is handling everything and there
04:51is no parallel line.
04:53They are not allowing us to speak and they are killing freedom of speech.
04:56So, even when it comes to Pune, because Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver his speech and he is going
05:01to interact just on upcoming weekend.
05:03So, before that, this controversy erupted when Gandhi said something.
05:08Again, the police said there will be, we will allow you, but there will be 30 different terms and conditions.
05:13You will have to follow all those.
05:15Otherwise, we will take action because there could be a situation of law and order for us.
05:20And that is how everything is happening.
05:21Back to you.
05:22All right.
05:23So, Rahul Gandhi facing a tough challenge there by the Pune administration.
05:27Some 30 different, you know, rules that he has to abide by if he wants that event to happen.
05:32But interesting how these events are taking place and perhaps, you know, getting more focus to the events than they
05:38would have otherwise by bringing in all these restrictions in place.
05:41But we leave it there, Omkar.
05:42Thanks so much for joining us.
05:43We'll see you next time.
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