Rahul Gandhi denied permission to visit Saharanpur

Rahul was planning to visit Shabbirpur village and meet Dalit families whose houses had been burnt, besides a hospital where some injured are undergoing treatment.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has been denied permission to visit caste conflict-hit Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

No permission has been given for Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the district, said ADG (law and order) Aditya Mishra.(PTI FILE PHOTO)

“No permission has been given for Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the district,” said ADG (law and order) Aditya Mishra, adding that the district administration has banned the visits of all political leaders.

Congress’s Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia, who was denied permission to visit the affected areas on Thursday, said they had applied for permission to Rahul’s visit on Thursday. “We have sent a reminder to the district administration on Friday.”

The Congress vice president was planning to visit Shabbirpur village in the district on Saturday and meet Dalit families whose houses had been burnt, besides a hospital where some injured are undergoing treatment.

Violence broke out in Shabbirpur village between after a Thakur youth was killed in brick batting between Thakurs and Dalits over a Maharana Pratap birth anniversary parade on May 5 following which Rajputs allegedly torched over 50 hutments of Dalits.

Another person died in fresh violence that broke out there after BSP chief Mayawati’s visit earlier this week.

However, sources said late at night that Sarsava airbase authorities have given permission to land Gandhi’s aircraft there. Congress MP PL Punia too confirmed the development.