By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun: A political controversy has erupted ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme at Parade Ground here on July 17 with the party accusing the Uttarakhand government of attempting to derail the event by putting pressure on the administration to change the venue.
Hundreds of youths mainly students are expected to attend the programme, the Congress party claimed.
State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal on Tuesday 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.
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.
“We have the official permission,” he said.
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.