The Indian Women’s Press Corps on Friday withdrew permission to a Dalit organisation to hold a news conference, one hour before the event was to begin.

The Bhim Army, which had participated in a mega rally in Delhi on Wednesday against the demolition of a Guru Ravidass temple, was told “religious and political” programmes were not allowed.

Bhim Army general secretary Kamal Singh Walia said theirs was a civil rights group.An IWPC office-bearer said the body had “realised late” it doesn’t “allow political parties or organisations to hold press conferences”. But it would continue to invite activists.