Permission Revoked for Rahul Gandhi’s Student Event in Prayagraj
The Kayastha Pathshala Trust has cancelled the venue permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming student interaction event, ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, which was slated to take place at the K.P. Ground in Prayagraj on August 8. The cancellation was decided following references to a judicial directive alongside recent weather conditions at the grounds.
What Happened
According to Jitendra Nath Chaudhary, acting president of the Kayastha Pathshala Trust, the decision to revoke permission stems from an Allahabad High Court order dated August 14, 2025. That court ruling instructed that the K.P. College ground must not be allocated for activities other than educational and sports-related events.
In addition to the court order, trust officials noted that recent rainfall had left the grounds waterlogged, rendering the location unsafe for hosting a large public gathering. Mr. Chaudhary noted that the initial permission given to the Congress party had been conditional and required final clearance from the local district magistrate.
Key Highlights
- Event Details: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was scheduled to address students on August 8 regarding alleged paper leaks and related student concerns.
- Reasons for Revocation: The venue trust cited an Allahabad High Court ruling restricting the ground’s usage to educational and sporting events, along with ground waterlogging following rains.
- Administrative Condition: Initial venue clearance had been subject to approval from the district magistrate.
- Congress Response: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai stated that Mr. Gandhi will still visit Prayagraj on August 8 to meet students and urged authorities to arrange an alternative location.
Why This Matters
The scheduled interaction was planned as a platform for the Leader of the Opposition to engage directly with students on pressing youth issues, specifically matters concerning alleged examination paper leaks. Following the venue revocation, political tensions have surfaced, with state Congress leadership claiming the cancellation was politically driven and that similar events involving Mr. Gandhi faced cancellations in Kota and Dehradun.
What to Watch Next
With Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders formally appealing to the state government and the Prayagraj district administration for an alternative venue, attention turns to whether administrative permission and a new site will be granted ahead of Mr. Gandhi’s planned visit on August 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was permission for the Prayagraj venue cancelled?
The Kayastha Pathshala Trust revoked permission citing an Allahabad High Court order barring non-educational and non-sports events at K.P. Ground, as well as ground waterlogging that made the site unsafe.
What was the focus of the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme?
The programme was arranged for Rahul Gandhi to interact with students on the subject of alleged paper leaks and other student-related issues.
Will the event still take place in Prayagraj?
State Congress president Ajay Rai affirmed that Rahul Gandhi plans to visit Prayagraj on August 8, and the party has requested the district administration and state government to allocate an alternate venue.
Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu and statements provided to PTI.