New Delhi, 06 August—Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today alleged that the Uttar Pradesh administration has been trying “every possible way” to stop his ‘Chatron Ki goonj’ programme in Prayagraj on August 8 asserting that ‘No matter how the government tries, it cannot stop me to raise student’s voice”.
With the venue provider in Prayagraj revoking permission for his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event, Rahul Gandhi said no matter how hard the BJP government tries, it cannot stop him from raising the voice of students.
The Leader of Opposition’s remarks came after the Kayastha Pathshala Trust revoked permission for his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, scheduled to be held at KP Ground in Prayagraj on August 8, citing an Allahabad High Court order.
The trust also cited waterlogging at the venue for the cancellation.
Sources in the Yogi government said that Kayasthya Pathshala was forced to cancel the permission under tremendous pressure.
In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul said the students of Allahabad University are fighting for their future against fee hikes and seat cuts.
“But instead of listening to the students, the administration is filing FIRs against them,” he alleged.
The policy of the Modi government is to suppress the voice of the youth, Rahul claimed.
“Ask a question and you get a lathi charge, protest and you face cases, and raise your voice and you get pellet guns,” Rahul said.
“Ever since I decided to come to Prayagraj to hear the students’ issues, the administration has been trying every possible way to stop my programme,” Rahul said.
It’s clear that they are even afraid of ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’, he said.
“I stand with the students. No matter how hard the government tries, it cannot stop me from raising their voice,” Rahul asserted.
Rahul’s remarks came after the Kayastha Pathshala Trust’s acting president, Jitendra Nath Chaudhary, told a news agency that the Allahabad High Court, in an order dated August 14, 2025, had directed that the KP College ground should not be used for purposes other than sports and educational activities.
He said the ground was also waterlogged after rain and was unsafe for a public event. Chaudhary said the permission granted to the Congress was conditional upon approval from the district magistrate.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was scheduled to interact with students on alleged paper leaks and other matters affecting students at the gathering.
On August 5, Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai visited Prayagraj to review preparations for the event.
Rai asserted that Gandhi will come to Prayagraj on August 8 and interact with students despite the KP Trust revoking permission for the venue.
Addressing reporters in the evening, Rai urged the state government and district administration to provide an alternative venue for the programme.
He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was ‘afraid’ of Gandhi and claimed the event was being obstructed for political reasons.
Gandhi’s programmes in Kota and Dehradun had similarly been cancelled, Rai claimed.
Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator
