Kanpur:
An FIR has been filed against Rahul Gandhi for alleged model code of conduct violation in Kanpur.
Mr Gandhi's road show allegedly did not take the route for which they had permissions for causing traffic snarls in the city.
"The district administration had allocated time till noon and fixed a 20-km route for Rahul Gandhi's road show. This was done as today is Shivratri and there could be a traffic problem," District Magistrate Hari Om said.
"But this road show completely violated the election code of conduct as it started at 10.30 AM continued till 3 PM It did not stick to the prescribed route and instead covered a stretch of 38 kms. Therefore, the organisers of the road show will be booked for violating the election code," he added.
Mr Gandhi and 39 others have been booked under sections 188 (violation of prohibitory orders under 144), 283 (causing public inconvenience and nuisance) and 290 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
However, state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who was part of the road show, denied there was any violation of the model code of conduct and accused the district administration of trying to stop Rahul's mass contact programme at the behest of the Mayawati Government.
According to the District Magistrate, the road show organisers had sought permission for a 38-km stretch but they had been informed last night about the conditions. "Still they violated the rules and chose to follow the route for which permission had not been granted," he said, adding, "There could have been a security breach or there could have been a clash".
Ms Joshi, however, countered that the detailed programme of the Congress general secretary, including the route, was handed over to the district administration by the district unit well in advance and was also cleared by the SPG.
"The administration, however, revised the programme last night and sent it to the SPG," she claimed. She said that as the people had already been informed about the entire programme, it was not possible to carry out last minute changes.
"During the entire mass contact programme neither Rahul Gandhi addressed a meeting, nor did he take out any procession. Therefore, he has not violated the model cone of conduct," the state Congress president claimed.
She alleged that the Mayawati government was "nervous and shaken" after the "success" of Rahul's roadshow in Lucknow. Jaiswal said, "Rahul Gandhi has not violated any election code. Was there curfew in the town, that he should not have visited those areas?"
Rahul's road show began at the Circuit House this morning and crossed through all the five assembly segments here with people standing on both sides of the roads to greet the leader.
In Muslim-dominated Chunnigang area, people welcomed him by showering flowers while the Congress leader garlanded an Ambedkar statue in Bajaria area.
Kanpur will go to polls in the fifth phase of February 23.
The state Congress said that Rahul received a tumultuous welcome during his road show, creating "a new atmosphere in favour" of the party.
UP Media Campaign Committee chairman Raj Babbar said the road show witnessed large crowds with the youth, women and children particularly eager to meet the Congress leader.
(With PTI inputs)