AP issues GO banning public rallies

A stampede at a TDP roadshow at Kandukur in Nellore district killed 8 persons on Dec 28, at another meeting held by Vuyyuru Foundation formed by some NRIs at Guntur to distribute clothes and ration as Pongal gift to the poor people on Jan 1 caused death of 3 women

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Government has clamped a ban on holding of rallies and roadshows following death of 11 persons in two stampedes in quick succession following which the TDP and the Jana Sena have hit out at the YSRCP for what they termed 'murder of democracy' while the BJP, which has an alliance with Jana Sena welcomed the decision at least for some time to ensure public safety.

A stampede at a TDP roadshow at Kandukur in Nellore district killed eight persons on December 28, at another meeting held by Vuyyuru Foundation formed by some NRIs at Guntur to distribute clothes and ration as Pongal gift to the poor people on January 1 caused death of three women. The Guntur stampede happened after Naidu left the venue when a large number of women broke the barricade. The incidents led to a political blame game. While the TDP alleged that immediately after the incidents, YSRCP spread the news like wildfire in the social media giving the suspicion that the fatalities were an offshoot of a conspiracy, YSRCP denied the charge and alleged that Naidu was desperate to get cheap publicity by creating an impression that he was drawing groundswell of support and poised to become Chief Minister after 2024 elections.

In the GO issued by Principal Secretary (Home) Harish Kumar Gupta, it was stated that they will not allow meetings at National Highway and narrow roads. He asked the district authorities to hold such programmes at designated areas without causing any traffic inconvenience to the public.

Defending the order, YSRCP general secretary and Government Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the ban is also applicable to the ruling party. He alleged TDP was trying to gain political mileage by holding rallies and meetings at narrow lanes without any exit points.

Earlier, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy addressing a meeting at Rajamahendravaram, said Chandrababu Naidu is interested in photo-shoots and publicity stunts ignoring the need to safeguard public safety.

TDP State president K Atchan Naidu described the decision as part of vendetta politics and indicated that they will approach the court to declare the GO null and void. Jana Sena Political Affairs Committee chairman N Manohar described as murder the democracy, the order issued by the government prohibiting rallies and roadshows. He recalled how Jana Sena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan was not allowed to move out of his hotel to hold Janavani programme in Visakhapatnam by the police on the orders from the government.

BJP MP and national spokesman GVL Narsimha Rao welcomed the GO and said such restrictions should be enforced at least for some time.