Hyderabad: More than a month after the Andhra Pradesh government passed an order (GO-1) directing the police to regulate street public gatherings, the directive has sparked a controversy between the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government and opposition parties Has happened. The latter called it a “draconian rule” intended to “prevent them from associating with the public”.
Order was passed in January by the Andhra government to prohibit public meetings on the street Death Former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Eight people died in a stampede at Kandukuru in Nellore district during Chandrababu Naidu’s roadshow in December.
order is done Challenge: in the State High Court, which has reserved judgment on the same.
TDP has been the most vocal against the order. TDP workers clashed with police after Naidu’s departure last week stopped By holding a street meeting in East Godavari district. the police have Registered Case against Naidu and other TDP leaders for violation of GO-1.
TDP leaders showed ThePrint the police permit that was taken for the former chief minister’s February 17 roadshow at Anaparthi village in East Godavari, but said the police later stopped them, saying party meetings had blocked traffic. have interrupted. He quoted the police as saying that a rally can be held without disrupting any traffic flow, but meetings or public gatherings on roads that violate the order, especially those that disrupt traffic, cannot be held. Can go
Naidu eventually walked a few kilometers to reach his destination.
“I walked 7 km to reach Anaparthi. Why am I being stopped, have I come from Pakistan? The police had given us permission earlier, but it seems they can revoke the permission given at any time.
he forward alleged: “This psycho CM (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy) is pressurizing the police. Have we ever stopped Jagan’s padayatra (when he was in opposition), why so many restrictions now?
The former CM further said, ‘Jagan’s rule must go.’
Naidu also raised the issue in a letter to the state Director General of Police on Monday, alleging that the police were creating hurdles in their meetings. ThePrint has seen the letter.
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‘Road show disrupted traffic’
East Godavari Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar told the media that the roadshow, in which Naidu was also addressing the crowd, was blocking traffic and violating GO-1. He said an alternate venue was suggested to hold the meeting, but the TDP went ahead with its plan.
The YS Jagan government’s order prohibits public meetings and gatherings on municipal and panchayat roads, state highways and national highways.
Citing provisions of the Police Act, 1861, the order mentions how the police have powers to regulate such meetings. It asked the police not to allow meetings on the streets, which involved huge public gatherings.
In its order, referring to the December stampede deaths, the government said holding meetings on public roads or roadsides was causing “deaths” and obstructing traffic. It takes hours for the police to bring the situation under control.
“It is the police machinery of the State which is empowered under law to regulate the said activity in public interest, while having cognizance of the fact that there is a fundamental right of peaceful assembly under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. Public roads And the right to hold a public meeting on the streets is a subject of regulation as Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861 is itself mandated,” the order, a copy of which is with ThePrint, said.
Keeping in view the frequency of such public meetings, especially by political parties, and the huge gatherings of people attending it, the order said, “It is necessary that the recent incidents of loss of life are given due attention be given”.
The order states that national and state highways are designed for high-speed connectivity across the country and any disruption on the highways has an impact on the movement of logistics across the state and country. This is the reason why it is better if the meeting is not allowed on the state highway.
The order states that municipal roads and panchayat roads are narrow and meant for free movement of local population and any obstruction due to meetings on roads endangers life and disrupts civilian life, indicating that such The permission for meetings on the streets should also be restricted.
“Only in rare and exceptional circumstances and if reasons for the same are given in writing, permission for public gatherings on public roads may be considered,” the order said.
Even while dealing with such rare cases, the police should consider the width of the roads, duration of the meeting, location of the venue, exit points and other factors before granting permission.
“Draconian regime”
TDP leader Pattabhi Ram, speaking to ThePrint, claimed the order was “nothing but an attempt to stop the opposition from reaching out to the people”, dubbing it “Jagan’s draconian law”.
Ram said: “Under Naidu’s rule, not only Jagan but his late father YS Rajasekhara Reddy (former chief minister) also held rallies and hiking (Walkathon). Have we ever implemented such rules. Even Jagan, in the 2019 Andhra elections, did a massive padyatra. did we ever stop Then why such rules for us?
He further said, “We are only asking the Chief Minister to do democratic governance, it is very undemocratic.”
TDP sources told ThePrint that the order was issued in January by Naidu’s son and TDP leader Nara Lokesh to “hinder the padyatra”. Lokesh to depart On 4000 kilometer padyatra on 27th January to better connect with the public.
“The order was passed weeks before Lokesh was to start his padyatra on January 27, clearly creating hurdles for his walkathon. The police, at any time, can stop them from holding a meeting or continue with their rally citing this draconian government order. We are all very careful. I am sure the rules do not apply to the ruling party. When it comes to their turn to hold meetings or rallies, they will list it as an ‘extraordinary case’ and seek permission, abusing the power,” said a senior leader on condition of anonymity.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has also spoken out against the order, with BJP leader and former state chief secretary of the party IYR Krishna Rao saying, ,I don’t remember ever seeing such orders before. But given the background of the stampede, perhaps we should give the government some benefit of the doubt. That being said, the police should be able to control that situation and instead of regulating, they cannot say there is no alternative and impose restrictions.
(Edited by Geetalakshmi Ramanathan)
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