Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme in Indore will now be held on a leased ground near Regional Park on September 19 after the party failed to secure permission to organise the student outreach event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The Congress has paid Rs 10.08 lakh to the Indore Development Authority (IDA) for the temporary lease of around 12,000 square metres of land in front of Regional Park from September 17 to 19. The party has named the new venue “Bharat Jodo Maidan”.
Congress deposits Rs 10.08 lakh
According to an IDA communication to Indore City Congress Committee president Chintu Chouksey, permission for the programme would be issued after payment of the stipulated amount and subject to prescribed conditions. The organisers will be responsible for security arrangements and will also have to obtain no-objection certificates from the departments concerned.
Chouksey said the Congress had deposited the agreed amount in the IDA’s bank account. He accused the BJP government of creating hurdles because it was nervous about Gandhi’s student outreach programme.
The Congress had initially planned to hold the programme at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on September 12. However, after permission was not granted, the event was postponed to September 19 and the party began searching for an alternative venue.
Chouksey alleged that Congress leaders were made to “run around” for about 10 days before securing the Regional Park ground.
Mayor cites High Court order
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava rejected the suggestion that the stadium had been denied for political reasons. He said an old Madhya Pradesh High Court order restricted the use of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to sporting activities and state-level government programmes.
The stadium is under the Indore Municipal Corporation.
The venue dispute has triggered a political confrontation between the Congress and BJP. BJP state co-media in-charge Alok Dubey accused the Congress of indulging in propaganda and took a swipe at the programme’s name, saying it should be called “Jhooth Ki Goonj” instead of “Chhatron Ki Goonj”.
Earlier, Congress leaders had claimed around 75,000 registrations for the programme while the latest party claims put registrations at around 1.5 lakh.
Rahul to raise student issues
“Chhatron Ki Goonj” is Rahul Gandhi’s student dialogue campaign focusing on issues including question paper leaks, examination irregularities, rising education costs, alleged irregularities in government recruitment and unemployment.
Four editions of the campaign have already been organised in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The Pune programme on August 22 was organised for female students.
The Indore event is part of the Congress’s wider effort to expand the campaign across states, with Ahmedabad also being considered for a subsequent edition.
With the alternative venue now secured, Gandhi is scheduled to address students in Indore on September 19, a week later than originally planned.