The management of a college in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj has revoked permission for an event at which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was to speak with students about paper leaks and exam irregularities, ANI reported.

The “Chhatron Ki Goonj [call of students]” programme, part of a campaign started by the Congress on accountability in education, was scheduled to be held on Saturday at the KP College sports ground.

The acting president of the Kayastha Pathshala Trust, which runs the college, told PTI that an Allahabad High Court order, dated August 14, 2025, restricted the use of the ground to sports and educational activities.

He also said that the permission granted to Congress was subject to approval from the district magistrate.

The trust also cited waterlogging caused by recent rains as the reason for the cancellation, PTI reported.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Wednesday said that Gandhi will travel to Prayagraj on August 8 and interact with the students, despite the trust revoking permission for the programme, PTI reported.

He also urged the state government and district administration to provide an alternative venue for the programme. He further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was blocking the event for political reasons, as it was “afraid” of Gandhi.

Earlier, Gandhi had addressed students in Rajasthan’s Kota and Uttarakhand’s Dehradun during “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programmes.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.

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