Rahul Gandhi says government can't stop him from raising students' voice after venue cancellation

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said on Thursday that no government effort can stop him from raising the voice of students, after the Kayastha Pathshala Trust in Prayagraj revoked permission for his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event.

The trust, which owns the KP Ground, had granted permission for the event scheduled on Saturday, August 8. However, in a reversal, it cited an Allahabad High Court order dated August 14, 2025, which restricts the ground to sports and educational activities. It also mentioned waterlogging following recent rain, making the venue unsafe for a public gathering.

Reacting on X, Gandhi said students of Allahabad University are fighting for their future against fee increases and reduction in seats. "But instead of listening to the students, the administration is filing FIRs against them," he alleged.

He went on to accuse the central government of pursuing a policy of suppressing the youth. "Ask a question and you get a lathi charge, protest and you face cases, and raise your voice and you get pellet guns," he said in his post.

The Congress leader stated that ever since he announced his visit to Prayagraj to hear students' concerns, the administration has attempted to obstruct the programme. "It's clear that they are even afraid of 'Chhatron ki Goonj'," he added.

"I stand with the students. No matter how hard the government tries, it cannot stop me from raising their voice," Gandhi asserted.

Jitendra Nath Chaudhary, acting president of the Kayastha Pathshala Trust, told PTI that the High Court's order prohibited the use of the college ground for non-educational purposes. He added that the ground was waterlogged and unsafe, and that the permission granted earlier was conditional on approval from the district magistrate, which had not been obtained.

The event was intended as an interaction between Gandhi and students on issues such as alleged paper leaks, fee hikes, and seat cuts. On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, Ajay Rai, visited Prayagraj to review arrangements and said Gandhi would visit the city on Saturday and interact with students despite the cancellation.

The development highlights the broader political divide over student activism, with the Congress accusing the administration of stifling dissent and the authorities maintaining they are following legal procedures.