Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102561591200.htm

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Rahul keeps date with students

KANPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled interaction with students of the Chandrashekhar Azad University was cancelled by the University administration on Friday.

The gates of the auditorium, where the interaction was to take place, were locked when Mr. Gandhi arrived.

The incident comes after the controversy over the Mayawati government cancelling the allotment of land for construction of a rail coach factory in Ms. Gandhi’s constituency in Rae Bareli. Later, the government restored the order for land allotment.

UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi alleged that Chief Minister Mayawati had exerted pressure on the Vice-Chancellor to cancel the function.

She also said the administration had withdrawn all security for the leader.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 cafeteria.

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