The difficulties in Indore are also part of a wider pattern surrounding the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign. The student-dialogue programme, launched by Gandhi to raise issues including question paper leaks, expensive education, irregularities in government recruitment and unemployment, has faced logistical and administrative hurdles at earlier venues as well.
Four editions have so far been held in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune, all in BJP-ruled states. The Indore event will be the fifth.
The Congress has described the programme as an effort to engage directly with students on education and employment issues and to target the BJP-led government over what it calls failures in these areas.
The latest disagreement, meanwhile, centres on the use of government land: the IDA says the Congress used part of the allotted site three days before the lease began, while the party alleges that the additional demand reflects political pressure.
With PTI inputs
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