The Youth Congress in Uttar Pradesh has found a new way to ensure activity and influx of money in its office. They have started letting out the sprawling YC office campus for weddings at night.
The matter came to light last week when a group of inebriated “baratis” reached the wedding venue at the YC office at 7, Mall Avenue, and kept dancing to blaring music till late into the night. Some of them entered into a brawl when local residents objected.
The angry residents called up the police and even threatened to report the matter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. The music was finally put off and the “baaratis” retreated but the matter was reported to the UP Congress office-bearers.
The UP Congress, instead of probing the matter, hurriedly rushed in to defend the event.
UPCC spokesman Hilal Ahmad Naqvi issued a press statement saying that the office premises was rented free of cost to one Mohammad Hanif, who is a Congress worker, and no money was charged for the same.
Youth Congress sources claim that a sum of `51,0000 was charged as rent for the venue.
Mr Vivek Singh, Congress MLA and chairman of the UPCC media cell, inspected the Youth Congress office on receiving complaints and found seven more applications that had been approved for wedding.
Surprisingly, all the applicants had claimed to be permanent residents of 7, Mall Avenue. One Harilal even mentioned 7, Mall Avenue as his residential address in the wedding invitation. The applications were cleared by two UPCC general secretaries. “The whole thing seems rather suspicious and we are investigating the matter,” said the legislator. YC president Tarun Patel told reporters that he had objected to the practice and had even complained in writing on several occasions, but the seniors ignored his pleas.
Sources said that the business of renting the premises had been going on for quite some time for personal monetary gains and some functionaries of the UPCC were hand-in-glove with YC leaders. The venue was in great demand because of its prime location. The Youth Congress office that lies opposite the UPCC headquarters is housed in a dilapidated bungalow that has a huge sprawling ground but no maintenance to speak of.