By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun:
The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday cancelled the proposed ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Parade Ground here on July 17.
Immediately after the permission was cancelled, State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal along with several senior party leaders including Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya held a brief dharna at Parade Ground and later held a protest march also.
Godiyal claimed that the event was cancelled by the government fearing the popularity of party leader Rahul Gandhi.
But Godiyal said the party would go ahead with the programme and organize the event at Bannu School Ground few kms away from Parade Ground.
Earlier, Godiyal has alleged that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was exerting pressure on the district administration to prevent the programme from being held at the originally approved venue. “We expect the Chief Minister not to interfere in a political programme and to allow it to take place without any hindrance,” Godiyal said on social media.
Hundreds of youths mainly students are expected to attend the programme, the Congress party claimed.
The event is expected to mark Rahul Gandhi’s first major interaction with students in Uttarakhand ahead of the Assembly elections due early next year and is likely to provide momentum to the Congress’ campaign in the state.
Stepping up his attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the state Congress chief alleged that the government was “scared of Rahul Gandhi’s growing popularity” and was therefore attempting to create hurdles in the successful organisation of the programme.
“The BJP government is trying every possible way to disrupt Rahul Gandhi’s event. We are clear that the programme will be organised at the venue for which permission has already been granted,” he said.