UP govt allows use of its auditorium for Rahul's press conference

"Managing Director, UP Tourism, Avneesh Awasthi called me and informed that the department has allowed us to organise Rahul Gandhi's press conference at its Gomti Nagar auditorium tomorrow," party spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said.

Earlier in the day, the Tourism Department had cancelled allotment of its auditorium where Gandhi was scheduled to address a press conference during his two-day visit to the state.
The auditorium, where Gandhi was scheduled to address a press conference tomorrow morning, was booked in the name of Singh himself.

Official sources said the cancellation was ordered on the ground that no political event or conference could be held inside government premises.

"It is absurd as the Tourism Department officials also attended a meeting between SPG and the state police.Till yesterday the entire administration was cooperating," he said.

Meanwhile, the state government clarified that it had nothing to do with the cancellation of the booking.

"Neither the government ordered the booking of the auditorium nor did it direct its cancellation. It is the prerogative of the department concerned," an official spokesman said here.