Awards function named after Rajiv Gandhi draws Youth Congress’ ire

Following a complaint by the City Youth Congress to their leader Rahul Gandhi, the organisers of the Rajiv Gandhi Achievers awards cancelled the show scheduled on Saturday.

Following a complaint by the City Youth Congress to their leader Rahul Gandhi, the organisers of the Rajiv Gandhi Achievers awards cancelled the show scheduled on Saturday.

HT Image

While the organisers claimed to have postponed the event, the Youth Congress says the step was taken following intervention by the Congress leadership as the awards were named after their late leader.

According to Mohit Gambhir, the Mulund Assembly Region vice-president, Youth Congress, who complained to Rahul Gandhi that the organisation called ‘Rastriya Rajiv Sena’ was misusing the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name. HT has a copy of the letter.

The Sahar police station officials also confirmed that the show was cancelled. “When we went for Bandobast at the venue, the organisers told us that the show had been cancelled,” said a police officer who did not wish to be named.

“They (organisers) are using our late leader’s name just for commercial gains which will not be tolerated by us,” Ganmir said in his letter.

This is the second year the organisation is planning its ceremony in Mumbai.

The organisers said the function was postponed, not cancelled. “We could not procure licences due to Thursday’s strike and hence had to cancel the Saturday event. We will hold it later,” said MM Satish, organiser.

Satish added: “We refused to give passes to the Youth Congress members, which is why they are protesting.”