Prayagraj: With the trust managing the venue of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Students’ Voice) programme withdrawing permission for the event, the Prayagraj unit of Congress on Thursday said that the cancellation was made under pressure from the ruling BJP.The trust’s management committee reversed its decision after being “coerced” by the BJP, said Congress functionaries.“The move is an attempt to derail Rahul Gandhi’s outreach to students and young job aspirants, and is a reflection on the BJP’s unease over the growing appeal of the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha among the youth,” said a Congress functionary.The event was scheduled to be held at KP College ground on Aug 8.Despite the cancellation, senior Congress leaders asserted that the programme would be held at the same venue, on the same date and at the scheduled time.According to party leaders, KP Trust had initially granted permission for the event on July 30, and Congress has no plans to alter its schedule following the latest communication from the trust.Congress leaders also cited similar incidents in Kota, Rajasthan, and Dehradun, Uttarakhand, where they alleged attempts were made to disrupt previous editions of “Chhatron Ki Goonj.” They claimed those programmes were eventually held as planned and expressed confidence that the Prayagraj event would also go ahead because of strong support from students.“If jobs are not provided, questions will inevitably be raised and those in power will have to answer,” said senior Congress leader Mohd Farhan. “After Kota and Dehradun, the voice of students has now reached Prayagraj,” he added.Farhan said Prayagraj has a large population of young aspirants preparing for competitive examinations, many of whom spend years and significant resources pursuing govt jobs. He alleged that recurring paper leaks, delayed recruitment processes and prolonged uncertainty have adversely affected their prospects.Referring to previous youth protests in Delhi, he claimed that demonstrators seeking their rights had faced police action, but maintained that the movement would continue.Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Rai reiterated that the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme would “certainly” be held on Aug 8 at the scheduled time. He expressed confidence that the administration would have to facilitate the event in view of widespread student interest and participation.
