Students told to wear shoes to meet Gandhi

NAGPUR - Worried that slippers could be used as missiles, security personnel insisted that students meeting Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra’s Akola town should wear shoes.

Many at the Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University did that, some perhaps for the first time.

The university authorities then offered to take responsibility for the conduct of the students. Thus, a few with ‘chappals’ were permitted inside the venue.

Gandhi, who flew in from New Delhi, interacted with around 500 students, mostly post-graduates, on several issues.

He touched upon - at times seeking students’ views - politics, education, agriculture and corruption, a Congress official told IANS. “The mood was casual and the students were very enthusiastic.”

On Gandhi’s request, journalists were not allowed into the meeting, which lasted nearly 75 minutes.

He then took a helicopter for Aurangabad, around 400 km away, and Pune.