The controversy that has been going on for several days regarding the ‘Students’ Echo’ program proposed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on July 17 in Dehradun has finally reached a new turn. After the cancellation of permission for the program at the Parade Ground and political developments that continued till late night, Congress has decided to change the venue of the program. Now Rahul Gandhi’s program will be organized at Bannu School grounds.
Congress says that under the pressure of the government, the administration has canceled the permission of the parade ground, which shows that the Uttarakhand government is scared of Rahul Gandhi, however now the decision on the venue has been changed giving priority to the safety of students and parents.
Congress leaders marched to the parade ground at 11 pm
Despite the District Magistrate not giving permission to hold the program at the Parade Ground, late on Tuesday night a large number of workers including Congress State President Ganesh Godiyal, former State President Pritam Singh, senior leader Harak Singh Rawat, co-in-charge Manoj Yadav reached the Parade Ground from the Congress Headquarters. During this period there was an altercation between the police and the workers. Reaching the ground, Congress leaders and workers staged a protest and raised slogans against the state government.
Government is scared of Rahul Gandhi – Ganesh Godiyal
During the dharna at the parade ground, Ganesh Godiyal made serious allegations against the state government. He said that Congress was given permission for the first three days, but later it was canceled under pressure from the government. He claimed that in reality no activity was going on at the place which was blocked in the name of a government program.
Godiyal said that Congress had deposited Rs 1.77 lakh, much more than the fixed ground fee of Rs 65 thousand, yet the permission was withdrawn. According to him, this decision was taken under political pressure and the government is scared of Rahul Gandhi’s program.
The Congress State President clarified that the party was in a position to organize the program at the Parade Ground, but keeping in mind the safety of students and parents, now the program will be organized at Bannu School Ground. He said that the party wants that every student coming to the program should participate in a safe environment and return home safely.
Now students will gather at Bannu School grounds on 17th July
Congress has made it clear that Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Students’ Echo’ program will be held on the scheduled date of 17th July only, but now it will be organized at Bannu School grounds instead of Parade Ground. In such a situation, the ongoing political dispute regarding the venue of the program seems to be ending for the time being, although the round of allegations and counter-allegations is still going on between the Congress and the government regarding the cancellation of permission.
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