Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a gathering in NOIDA on July 9 after the state government rejected the party's application to hold a rally at Bhatta-Parsaul village, which saw violent protests against land acquisition in May, a party leader said on Saturday.
Announcing this, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee executive member Joginder Awana said: "We have been permitted to hold a maha panchayat at NOIDA's Ramlila Grounds at Sector-33. The venue was selected after the administration denied us permission to organise the gathering at Bhatta-Parsaul."
Additional district magistrate OP Arya said: "After we rejected their application for Bhatta-Parsaul and Jewar, they sought fresh permission Saturday for NOIDA for which we consented. But to hold the meeting at Ramlila Grounds at Sector-33, they have to seek permission from the NOIDA authority, which owns the grounds."
Asked on what basis the permission was granted for the rally, he said: "We have adequate resources in NOIDA to control any kind of situation, as compared to Bhatta-Parsaul."
