The Hindu : Front Page : Mayawati targets Rahul Gandhi

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Saturday, Oct 25, 2008
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Mayawati targets Rahul Gandhi

PHOTO: PTI

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi walks down to the university cafe in Kanpur on Friday with students after being denied an opportunity to hold an interaction with them in the campus auditorium.

KANPUR: After Congress president Sonia Gandhi, it was the turn of her son Rahul Gandhi to be targeted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday when the administration of a university here cancelled his scheduled interaction with students.

Almost a fortnight after the controversy over the Mayawati government cancelling allotment of land for construction of a rail coach factory in Sonia Gandhi’s constituency Rae Bareli, the gates of the auditorium in Chandrashekhar Azad University were locked when Mr. Gandhi arrived here on Friday for the interaction.

UPCC President Rita Bahunguna Joshi alleged that the Chief Minister had exerted pressure on the university Vice-Chancellor to cancel the function. She said the administration had withdrawn all security for the leader.

But an unfazed Mr. Gandhi kept his date with the students, holding an interactive session in the university cafeteria.

Immediately after landing at the airport, Mr. Gandhi drove to the university auditorium. On finding it locked, he walked down a kilometre to the cafeteria with students to have an interaction.

The SPG security personnel protecting Mr. Gandhi had a tough time controlling the over-enthusiastic students. When they pushed some students to check them, Mr. Gandhi came to their rescue and instructed the SPG men not to prevent the students reaching him.

“I cannot understand why the State government is vindictive towards us,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters when asked why he was prevented from interacting with the students. - PTI

Governor cancels visit

PTI adds from Lucknow: Hours after Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to interact with students in the university auditorium, Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar cancelled his scheduled visit to the university for its Convocation.

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