The Team of Popular Youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (TOPY), the group purported to have demonstrated against former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings when she appeared before the vetting committees on Tuesday June 7 have reacted to the allegations made by another group called Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings(FONKAR). According to TOPY, the demonstration was not intended to intimidate the former first lady as is being alleged by FONKAR but to embark on a peaceful walk to the Castle to submit a petition to President Mills. Members of TOPY allegedly received severe beatings from some members of the Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (FONKAR) who accompanied the former first lady to the party’s headquarters after they seized some placards from TOPY which reportedly condemned Mrs. Rawlings’ bid to lead the NDC in 2012 and rather extolled the virtues of President Mills, her main contender. FONKAR has blamed Get Atta Mills Endorsed (GAME) and the National Executives of the NDC of orchestrating the demonstration. But the president of the group Stephen Kenneth Nakujah on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, debunked the allegations by FONKAR. He explained that they had advertised the peaceful demonstration to register their displeasure on the looming crisis in the party about two months ago on their facebook fun page and that it is just a mere coincidence the date they chose coincided with the vetting date of Mrs. Rawlings. Mr. Nakujah added that their presence at the party headquarters was to wait for other members who had assembled at Kwame Nkrumah Circle before they leave to the Castle to present their petition to President Mills who is the leader of the party. The TOPY president noted that, the main objective of the group is to stand by the true ideals of the NDC, create a platform for the grassroots to engage in critical analysis of issues concerning the party and to contribute in championing the Better Ghana Agenda. Mr. Nakujah stressed that their decision to demonstrate on Tuesday was an independent decision by TOPY which is in the interest of the party without the knowledge of the party’s National Executives or GAME as it is being purported by FONKAR. He called on the two factions (FONKAR and GAME) to abide by the rules and regulation for the July 8-10 Congress in Sunyani for a united front in election 2012. Story by Adwoa Gyasiwaa/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana