5 days ago
Journalists’ Union Challenges FIR Mention After Rahul Gandhi Event
A disagreement happened at COEP before Rahul Gandhi held an event in Pune.
Some student groups argued about a video made by a girl student.
The video discussed whether students were being charged too much or denied a scholarship.
The argument led to clashes between ABVP and NSUI/Congress workers.
Three police complaints were filed.
One complaint by COEP also mentioned an ABP Majha journalist for allegedly entering the hostel without permission.
A journalists’ union said naming the journalist was an attack on press freedom.
The journalist said he had visited the college a day earlier and had spoken to several students.
The police commissioner said the complaints would be investigated.
The Pune Union of Working Journalists condemned the inclusion of an ABP Majha journalist in a COEP police complaint.
COEP filed an FIR against about 150 NSUI and Congress workers over alleged trespassing, unlawful assembly and misconduct.
Three FIRs followed a clash involving ABVP and NSUI/Congress workers at COEP on August 21.
COEP alleged that a student was pressured to make a false video about excess fees and that the video defamed the university.
The journalist said he visited COEP on August 20, spoke with several students and was not present during the reported August 21 incident.
- Who
- The Pune Union of Working Journalists, an ABP Majha journalist, COEP Technical University, and workers linked to NSUI, Congress and ABVP were involved in the dispute.
- What
- A journalists’ union challenged the mention of an ABP Majha journalist in an FIR connected to clashes and alleged unauthorized entry at COEP.
- Where
- COEP Technical University and its hostel premises in Pune, with complaints filed at Shivajinagar police station.
- When
- The clashes occurred on August 21; the journalist said he visited COEP on August 20, and the related FIRs were filed from August 22 onward.
- Why
- The dispute followed videos involving a COEP student’s claims about fees or scholarship issues and allegations that student groups pressured her to make a statement.
Journalist and Press-Freedom Position
COEP and Complaint-Based Position
Whether the journalist should be named
Journalist and Press-Freedom Position
The Pune Union of Working Journalists said the journalist was not present during the August 21 incident and that including the name attacks press freedom.
COEP and Complaint-Based Position
COEP’s FIR alleged that an ABP Majha journalist entered the hostel premises without permission, so the journalist was included in the complaint.
What happened to the student
Journalist and Press-Freedom Position
The journalist said the student and at least four others independently spoke about being denied an orphan scholarship and other problems.
COEP and Complaint-Based Position
COEP alleged that NSUI workers compelled the student to falsely claim that she was charged general-category fees, and that the video defamed the university.
Timing of the journalist’s visit
Journalist and Press-Freedom Position
Mandar Gonjari said he visited COEP on August 20 to ask students whether they would attend Rahul Gandhi’s event and was not present during the August 21 incident.
COEP and Complaint-Based Position
The COEP complaint referred to an ABP Majha journalist allegedly entering the hostel premises without permission in connection with the incident described in the FIR.
Key facts
- Journalists’ union
- The Pune Union of Working Journalists demanded removal of the journalist’s name from the FIR.
- Police commissioner
- Amitesh Kumar said the complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken.
- FIRs
- Three FIRs were registered after the campus clash.
- COEP complaint
- COEP named about 150 NSUI and Congress workers over alleged unlawful assembly, trespassing and related offenses.
- Journalist’s account
- Mandar Gonjari said he entered COEP on August 20, was not stopped, and interviewed at least five students.
- Student videos
- The student first said she had been pressured to claim excess fees, then later said she had made a wrong statement and should not be involved in political drama.
Quotes
Mandar Gonjari
ABP Majha journalist named in the COEP FIR
“When NSUI and Congress activists visited… I told the ABP Majha news channel that the college was charging excess fees from students… But we were actually manipulated and pressure was created due to which I said it… This was wrong. So I apologise to the college.”
indianexpress.com
“I entered the COEP premises. Nobody stopped us. The security asked me to park our vehicle in available space. Then we went near the COEP canteen and found some 6-7 students there.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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