Rahul Gandhi’s ‘padyatra’ in Lucknow cancelled

Lucknow, July 28 (IANS) The ‘padayatra’ of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to the Raj Bhawan here on Friday has been cancelled as officials have not given permission for the event.

The event was planned ahead of assembly elections due early next year.

Congress sources said Gandhi will now only interact with party workers at the Rama Bai ground.

While Raj Babbar has been made the new state Congress chief, former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has been named the party’s chief ministerial nominee for Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow District Magistrate Raj Shekhar told IANS that permission was sought for Gandhi;s ‘padayatra’ orally and was denied orally too.

“In our view such an event would not only be fraught with security risks but would also disturb public order,” he added.