About a month after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who rode pillion on a motorcycle to fox Uttar Pradesh police and reached the troubled Bhatta-Parsaul village, was taken into preventive custody and later released, his party has again begun preparations for what it terms another "Rahul show" at Ground Zero.
The party has planned "an open session" with farmers, likely to be held either on June 24 or a day later. Rahul had sneaked into Bhatta before the daybreak, a few days after two farmers and as many policemen were killed in a clash in the village. Farmers had been protesting the state government's land acquisition policies at the Greater Noida village since January 17.
UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Monday reached the party office in Greater Noida with around 300 Congress leaders and workers waiting for her.
"Rahul Gandhi will come only after we get permission from the district administration. If we are not allowed to hold the meeting at Bhatta, we will opt for Dankaur or Tappal in Aligarh," party leader Joginder Singh Awana said and added, "On June 19, the birthday of Rahul Gandhi, nukkad sabhas and local panchayats will be held to garner public support."
District magistrate Deepak Aggarwal said, "We have not yet received any application from the Congress party for holding a maha panchayat at Bhatta. We will consider it depending on the current situation only when we get an application. Presently, Section 144 of the CrPC is in force in the district."
{{/usCountry}}District magistrate Deepak Aggarwal said, "We have not yet received any application from the Congress party for holding a maha panchayat at Bhatta. We will consider it depending on the current situation only when we get an application. Presently, Section 144 of the CrPC is in force in the district."
{{/usCountry}}