Akola, September 7
With hurling of footwear as a mode of protest against politicians becoming a trend, students wearing chappals were denied entry for an interaction with Rahul Gandhi at a local college today.

Securitymen and officials turned away chappal-wearing students wanting to take part in the interaction at Panjabrao Krushi Vidyapeeth at the main gate itself by way of precaution before they could even enter their own college auditorium, sources said.

The Congress general secretary was on a visit to Maharashatra as part of his country-wide tour for connecting with students and youth.

Authorities later, however, allowed entry of students wearing chappals but by that time a large of number of students had returned.

During the interaction, Rahul asked youth to join politics in greater numbers. “If you are interested in politics you can join. We need younger generation to lead people,” he said. The print and electronic media were also not allowed entry into the auditorium. A brief TV footage showed security personnel collecting some sneakers and belts presumably of students who were asked to remove them.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are among some prominent political leaders who became victims of shoe protests since the trend began when an Iraqi journalist hurled a shoe at US President George W Bush in Baghdad in December 2008. — PTI