National

Submit report on Rahul issue, V-C told

LUCKNOW: The Raj Bhavan has reportedly adopted a strong line on the last-minute cancellation of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s programme in Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture University in Kanpur last week reportedly on account of security concerns. Mr. Gandhi’s programme for October 24 was cancelled at the eleventh hour as the auditorium where the function was scheduled was found locked. The Special Protection Group attached to Mr. Gandhi was reportedly not informed of the cancellation.

The Raj Bhavan’s displeasure was reportedly made known to Vice-Chancellor V. K. Suri when he was asked to meet Principal Secretary to the Governor-Chancellor, G. B. Patnaik. Raj Bhavan sources confirmed that Mr. Suri met Mr. Patnaik on Monday. The Vice-Chancellor has been told to submit a report on the security faux pas, the sources said.

As Governor T.V. Rajeswar has reportedly not given an appointment to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Suri was asked to submit his version to the Governor’s Principal Secretary and other Raj Bhavan officials. According to sources, this follows contradictory versions reportedly given by the Vice-Chancellor on the cancellation of Mr. Gandhi’s interaction with the agriculture students.

Informed sources said that in his letter sent to the Agriculture Production Commissioner of the UP Government, the Vice-Chancellor had reportedly stated that no formal information had been conveyed to him about Mr. Gandhi’s programme. As he had no information, the question of granting or not granting permission for the programme did not arise, the Vice-Chancellor reportedly told the government. In the same letter, he reportedly acknowledged that a meeting did take place with the SPG officials about the security measures for the programme.

A report on the university incident is likely to be sent to the Centre as the Union Home Ministry had taken a strong exception to the episode.

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