Parties Plan Protests In Allahabad During BJP's National Executive

Allahabad: Ahead of BJP's national executive meeting in Allahabad, rival parties have announced plans for protests in the city though AAP has been denied permission for it, prompting it to move high court.

Congress said it will observe June 12, the day of commencement of the prime minister's visit, as 'Pol Khol Diwas' (Day of Expose) while its youth wing has announced a city bandh tomorrow.

BJP's rivals are hoping to take the sheen off the high-profile event being held by the party in Allahabad as it gears up for the Assembly elections which are less than a year away.

UPCC general secretary Mukund Tiwari said, "We will hold meetings in all the 12 Assembly segments of the district to expose the claims made by the Modi government which has failed to fulfill the promises made during the last general elections".

Congress' youth wing and its students' body NSUI have given a call for a city-wide "bandh" tomorrow.

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Queried on calling a bandh on Sunday when most establishments are close, NSUI district president Jitesh Mishra said, "Many commercial establishments remain open on Sundays.

"Also, our stress is not on disrupting business but on making the common people aware as to how they are being cheated by the Modi government".

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Aam Aadmi Party sought "permission" for staging a demonstration and waving black flags from a "safe distance" to protest the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit in Allahabad.

On June 6, a letter jointly signed by Sanjay Singh, member of the Political Affairs Committee of AAP, and Shimla Shri, the party's national executive member, was submitted to District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar.

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The DM replied in a letter that no permission could be granted for any type of protest demonstration during the PM's visit.

Unfazed by the refusal, Ms Shri, who was also the party's candidate from Phulpur in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, has shot off another letter to the DM claiming that their stir was "in no way aimed at creating any hurdles in the way of the prime minister" and requesting for a "review" of the decision.

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A petition has also been filed by the AAP leader in the Allahabad High Court challenging the district administration's refusal to grant permission for staging a demonstration.

However, the matter is not likely to be taken up by the High Court before Monday when the national executive meeting would be over, followed by PM Modi's public rally, after which he will depart from the city.
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The ruling Samajwadi Party in the state too has sprung into action as its workers are working overtime to paste party posters on any wall or lamp post.

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Moreover, nearly a score of propaganda vehicles, equipped with sound systems and huge LED screens, can be seen plying on the streets.

On the LED screens, capsules produced by the state's Information and Public Relations Department describing achievements of the Akhilesh Yadav government are on display.

Significantly, the Mayawati-led BSP is keeping a low profile so far.