No hurdle now for Rahul’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Prayagraj: Ajay Rai

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai said all clearances have been secured for Rahul Gandhi's "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme in Prayagraj on Saturday. The Congress expects a record turnout, with a motorcycle rally planned ahead of the student interaction at KP Ground

Prayagraj:  Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Friday said all necessary clearances have been secured for Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme in Prayagraj, and expressed confidence that the event would witness a record turnout.

“We have secured the clearance. Now there is no hurdle,” Rai told PTI, adding that the party is fully prepared to make Gandhi’s interaction with students on Saturday a success.

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The Congress has planned a motorcycle rally in Prayagraj on Friday evening to create awareness about Saturday’s programme, Rai said.

“If there is no mischief, we are expecting record turnout for Rahul ji’s event,” the UP Congress Committee chief, who has been virtually camping in Prayagraj for the past couple of days, said.

The event is scheduled to be held at KP Ground after the Kayastha Pathshala (KP) Trust on Thursday night restored permission a day after withdrawing it.

Acting president of the KP Trust Jitendra Nath Chaudhary had told PTI that the organisers were allowed to hold the programme after consultations with legal experts, subject to conditions that teaching and academic activities at the college are not be disrupted and the requisite permission be obtained from the district magistrate.

The trust had on Wednesday revoked permission for the August 8 programme, citing an Allahabad High Court order dated August 14, 2025, restricting the use of the KP College ground for sports and educational activities, besides waterlogging at the venue following recent rains.

The Congress had accused the Uttar Pradesh government of trying to scuttle the event and alleged that the venue provider was being pressured by the administration to withdraw permission. The BJP government has rejected such allegations.

According to Gandhi’s itinerary shared earlier by Rai, he will leave Delhi by a special flight at 2 pm on Saturday and reach Prayagraj airport around 3.30 pm.

He will then travel to Anand Bhavan (Nehru-Gandhu family’s ancestral home turned museum) before attending the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” interaction with students at KP Ground from 6 pm to 8.30 pm. Gandhi is scheduled to return to Delhi by a special flight later in the evening.