India | Updated Dec 07, 2009 at 01:05pm IST

UP govt cancels Rahul press con venue booking

Press Trust Of India

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department on Monday cancelled the booking of its auditorium where AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to address a press conference on Tuesday during his two-day visit to the state.

"The UP tourism department officials contacted us this morning and informed that the booking of the auditorium at Gomti Nagar has been cancelled on the directive of senior bosses," Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh told PTI.

The auditorium, where Rahul was scheduled to address a press conference on Tuesday morning, was booked in the name of Singh himself.

The party spokesman said that the tourism officials cited no reason behind cancellation of the booking.

"It is absurd as the tourism department officials also attended a meeting between SPG and the state police. Till yesterday the entire administration was cooperating," he alleged.

Meanwhile, the state government clarified that it had nothing to do with the cancellation of the booking.

"Neither the government ordered booking of the auditorium, nor it has directed its cancellation. It is the prerogative of the department concerned," an official spokesman said.

CNN-IBN REPORTS

bullet The state government had said that the venue chosen for Rahul's press conference - Paryatan Bhawan - is a government building which cannot be used for political purposes. The venue is presently being used for the Lucknow Mahotsav.

bulletPayment for the Paryatan Bhawan venue was made by the Congress party by cheque after getting clearance.

bulletThis is not the first time Mayawati has prevented the Gandhis from addressing rallies in Uttar Pradesh. On October 14, 2008, Congress President Sonia Gandhi was denied permission to hold a rally in her constituency Rae Bareli. The UP government had then said she was violating rules.

bulletIn the same month, 10 days later, Mayawati targetted Rahul Gandhi and stopped him from interacting with students at Chandrashekhar Azad University in Kanpur.

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