Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj programme in Indore has been postponed to September 19 after permission for Nehru Stadium was denied. The shift underscores the Congress campaign’s focus on student issues even as it clashes with the BJP government over venue access.
The Congress on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore has been postponed from September 12 to September 19 after the Madhya Pradesh government denied permission to use the city’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the programme.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari announced the change at a meeting to review preparations for the event. He said the party will now look for a new venue and make arrangements accordingly.
Patwari said the government denied permission to hold ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ at Nehru Stadium, which comes under the Indore Municipal Corporation. Earlier, he had written to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, asking him to make the stadium available for the September 12 event.
In his letter, Patwari said Rahul Gandhi’s programme was “not a typical political event, but a public dialogue focused on important issues such as the country’s future, the dreams of youth, the right to education, and the security of the education system”.
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said the Madhya Pradesh High Court had clearly stated that only sports activities or state-level government programmes could be allowed at the stadium. City Congress president Chintu Choukse had warned of a protest if permission for Gandhi’s programme at Nehru Stadium was not granted.
