PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Congress has claimed that frightened by the popularity of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the State government is trying to put hindrance in his ‘ Chhatroan Ki Goonj’ programme at Parade Ground on July 17. Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal said that the party had taken prior permission to organise the programme of Rahul Gandhi at Parade Ground and had booked it for three days ( 15, 16 and 17). He said that now the administration is asking the party to change the venue of the event. Godiyal said that the administration has not given any written order regarding shifting the venue or cancellation of the permission. He said that the Congress will move inside the Parade Ground at 12 PM on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday and will organise the programme of Rahul Gandhi there. Godiyal also appealed to all the workers of the Congress party of Dehradun and Haridwar districts to remain present at the State Congress headquarters on Tuesday night for the purpose.
Congress leader Amrendra Bisht told The Pioneer that the State unit of the party had applied at the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) for the permission to hold the programme of Rahul Gandhi at Parade Ground. He said that since the MCD owns the Parade Ground, permission was sought from it and fees of Rs 1,77,000 was deposited. He however added that the permission granted by the MCD was conditional to the production of no objection certificate (NOC) of the district administration. Bisht said that now the district administration is refusing to give the NOC and requesting the party to change the venue.
