Kanhaiya Kumar's Pune meeting venue shifted

Pune, Apr 23: The organisers who have invited JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar for a public meeting here on April 24 on Friday said they have changed the venue in view of the preconditions imposed by the police.

It would be now held at the Bal Gandharva auditorium, said the Progressive Students Youth Action Committee, the organiser said.

The mother and brother of the Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula will also attend the meeting.

The rally was earlier slated to take place at the premises of Rashtra Seva Dal, but the police asked the organisers to carry out a fire and structural safety audit of the venue and imposed certain other pre-conditions for giving permission.

"Since fulfilling the preconditions was impossible and it was clear that the police were using pressurising tactics, we decided to change the venue," said Girish Phonde, a Committee member.

"At Bal Gandharva, there is no need of fire or structural audit as the auditorium belongs to the municipal corporation. We have now applied afresh for police's permission," he said.

PTI