AAP gets nod to hold Surat rally; withdraws petition from HC

Ahmedabad, Sep 27: The Aam Aadmi Party today withdrew its petition in Gujarat High Court after the police granted it permission to hold a rally on October 16, to be addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The party withdrew its petition being heard by a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi today, as Surat Police Commissioner today informed the court that permission has been granted for the rally.

AAP, through its spokesperson Harshil Nayak, had moved the petition seeking permission for the rally which, it said, was not being granted by district administration, nearly a month after the party had applied for the same on August 19.

The court had last week issued notices to the district administration and Additional Home Secretary, Surat Police Commissioner and Collector.

AAP said this will be their first political rally to be addressed by Kejriwal, for which it required sufficient time for preparation and hence, sought permission well in advance.

Nayak said preparation has begun for the rally which will be the first in the run-up to the state Assembly polls to be held in 2017. "The rally will be held at Yogi Chowk in Surat's Varachha locality on October 19. Party volunteers have already begun preparations for the same in full-swing," he said.

PTI