By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun:
A day after the Uttarakhand government cancelled the proposed ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme of Rahul Gandhi at Parade Ground, Congress on Wednesday said the preparations for the event at Bannu School Ground at few kms away on July 17 are in full swing.
“Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Voice of Students) programme will be held on its previously scheduled date, July 17. However, the venue has been shifted from Parade Ground to the Bannu School ground in Dehradun. Preparations for the event have begun in full swing,” Congress leader Amarjeet Singh said. Only venue has been changed and the date of the event remains the same, Singh said.
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 a protest march also on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Godiyal along with several senior Congress leaders visited Bannu School Ground to see the preparations of the event.
Godiyal claimed that the government had the event cancelled, fearing the growing popularity of Congress 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.
