The Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP government in Uttarakhand over canceling permission for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chatro Ki Jung’ program at the parade ground in Dehradun, saying it feared the opposition leader in the Sabha. The Dehradun district administration has offered an alternative venue for the program as part of a nationwide drive against paper leakage, examination irregularities, canceled exams, re-exams and rising tuition costs.
State Congress president Ganesh Godial said that canceling permission for the event at the Parade Ground exposed the undemocratic face of the anti-student BJP government. “The BJP government is afraid of Rahul Gandhi’s growing popularity and of the youth who are increasingly voting. But the youth of Uttarakhand will continue to raise questions about education, employment, transparency and their future,” Godial said.
Congress organized a march to the parade ground to protest the decision. The protest led to a brief clash with police.
Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chouhan said the Congress had sought permission to hold the July 17 (Friday) program at the Parade Ground, which hosts the Union government’s expanded Lok Samvardhan Parv.
“A large number of people participate in this event [Parv]. Considering availability of place, traffic management, law and order and public convenience, the administration has offered Congress Bannu School ground or other alternative places. Chauhan said: “This is a purely administrative decision… and has nothing to do with preventing any political party from holding its programme.”
State BJP president Mahendra Bhatt rejected the Congress allegations. “If the aim is to interact with students, the venue should not matter. The Congress in its permission request did not mention that Rahul Gandhi would attend the event, though the administration has to make security and logistical arrangements,” Bhatt said.
He claimed that the program would be “scripted” and claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s visit would not have any political impact in Uttarakhand.
City Magistrate Rakesh Chandra Tiwari wrote to state Congress general secretary Rajendra Singh Bhandari, saying permission could not be granted for Gandhi’s program at the Parade Ground as the Lok Sanvardhan Parv being organized there has been extended till Friday.
This event involves artisans, organizations and distinguished guests from all over the country and requires elaborate security and traffic arrangements.
The letter cited police reports indicating concerns about public traffic, heavy vehicles, and the presence of schools and hospitals near the conference venue.
Another large gathering at the Parade Ground could impact traffic management and law and order, with additional traffic expected over the weekend, Chandra wrote. He added that the administration had refused permission to set up Gandhi headquarters and instead offered alternative options.
