Indore, September 17 – The Indore Development Authority (IDA) has demanded an additional Rs 4.03 lakh from the Indian National Congress for the use of a government ground during Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event scheduled for September 19. The party had already deposited Rs 10.08 lakh for a three‑day temporary lease of approximately 12,000 square metres in front of the Regional Park.
A site inspection by the IDA revealed that the Congress had occupied 4,800 square metres of the allotted area starting September 14, three days before the lease began. Consequently, the authority has asked the party to pay the extra fee for the extended use of the land.
Earlier this month, the Congress had requested permission to hold the event at the city’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on September 12. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, citing a Madhya Pradesh High Court order, denied the request, stating the stadium could only be used for sports or state‑level functions.
BJP state spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav has complained that the space was used beyond the permitted period, arguing that the matter concerns proper revenue collection rather than political opposition. In response, Congress president Chintu Chouksey has alleged that the demand for additional funds is the result of pressure from BJP leaders.
“Chhatron Ki Goonj” is a student‑dialogue campaign launched by Gandhi to address issues such as question‑paper leaks, costly education, irregularities in recruitment, and unemployment. The event is the fifth edition of the programme, following previous editions in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune.
