VIDEO: Rahul Gandhi Gets Surprise Kiss From Female Student During Pune Event
A video featuring Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has gone viral on social media following a student interaction programme in Pune, Maharashtra.
The incident occurred during the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event, where Rahul Gandhi interacted with students on issues including education, women's safety and equality. As the programme concluded, he came down from the stage and spent time taking photographs and selfies with students.
During the interaction, a young female student unexpectedly kissed Rahul Gandhi on the cheek while posing for a photograph. Rahul Gandhi smiled, briefly interacted with her and then moved on with his security personnel. The video of the moment has since gained significant attention on social media.
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A Girl Kissed Rahul Gandhi ji on Stage, Pure Love & Innocence pic.twitter.com/QUMBwVPdrX
Event Focused on Students and Women’s Issues
The programme was held at the SSPMS Ground in Pune and focused largely on concerns related to students, particularly women.
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi encouraged women to challenge patriarchal thinking and speak up for their rights. He urged them to embrace the message “Be Loud, Be Proud” and assert their identity and place in society.
He also spoke against the mindset that considers women subordinate to others or treats them as someone's property, stressing the importance of individual identity, equality and freedom.
BJP and Congress Trade Barbs
The event later sparked a political war of words between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Maharashtra BJP vice-president Keshav Upadhyay criticised the programme and described it as political drama. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi failed to address the real issues faced by students and claimed that people were brought to the event using college buses to increase attendance.
Congress national secretary Sachin Sawant responded by saying that the strong turnout and enthusiastic participation of young people had unsettled the ruling alliance. He claimed that youth participation remained significant despite restrictions allegedly imposed by the state administration.
Sawant also criticised the BJP-led Maharashtra government over issues affecting young people and took a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his interaction with Gen Z in Nagpur.
While the viral video has become a major talking point online, the Pune programme has also triggered a fresh political debate between the Congress and the BJP over youth issues, women's rights and the purpose of the event. ALSO READ: Anarchist or the Angry Young Man? Rahul Gandhi and the Making of India’s Most Aggressive Leader of the Opposition
