"We were quarantined in a room for almost an hour and then we entered the hall where Rahul was present; the Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel literally pushed us out, following which, we walked out," said an aggrieved journalist. Over 25 mediapersons were issued special passes to cover the programme, sources said.
City-based journalists condemned the shabby deal accorded to them at the university premises by "overzealous and sycophant guards".
Interestingly, amid allegations that the interaction was political and meant to lure youths into joining the National Student's Union Of India (NSUI), the office of Nehu vice-chancellor said, "We are not aware what the meeting is all about. The Congress will be in know of things."
The high-profile MP from Uttar Pradesh was in Shillong, ostensibly, to interact with university students. After the hour-long interaction was over, activists of the Congress's students' wing were, however, seen distributing NSUI membership forms among the students.
The coordinator of Gandhi's visit, D Geetha Krishnan, told reporters, "The programme has nothing to do with Congress. It's just an informal interaction. Rahul took questions from the students on various issues."
At the Convention Hall of Nehu, the AICC general secretary interacted with some 600 students of the city. Forty students, each from 15 colleges in Shillong, besides 70 others from Nehu attended the programme.
After the programme in Shillong, Rahul flew to Mizoram where he addressed students of the Mizoram University at Tanhril near Aizawl. He said being born and brought up in a political family, he was of the view that politicians should be in politics for the uplift of the people.
"I believe in listening (and then) implementing," he said, adding that he had come to Mizoram to listen to the voice of the youths. "I believe that the youths, comprising more than 40% of our population should come into politics," he said.