Cong-AAP road show leaves city traffic crawl

Huge processions of two political parties on Saturday left the city's traffic crawling and the commuters struggling to reach their destinations. The show-of-strength of the Congress and the AAP during their Road Shows contributed a lot to the woes of the public, especially the commuters.

The mega rallies of the Congress and the AAP triggered traffic jams at Indergunj, Jayendragunj, Phoolbagh, Padav, Railway Station junction and Hajira. Traffic jams were also seen in almost all the major roads that connect different parts of the city with each other. Almost all the areas in the city witnessed traffic blockade throughout the day. At many places traffic was thrown out of gear and the utter chaos lasted till late into the night.

The supporters of both parties were in a fanatical mood, coming out on the roads in full strength in four and two wheelers and on foot to show support for their leaders. Rubbing salt in the wound was the total inaction of the Police and the District Administration.

In fact there were no policemen to be seen anywhere on the roads. It looked like as if the Administration and the Police had no heart to confront the supporters of the political parties.

Speaking on condition of anonymity a senior police officer said that neither party had sought permission for the rallies; hence there was little coordination between the police and the parties.

The Supreme Court in one of its rulings had clearly stated while the political parties do have the right to hold rallies and demonstrations, the administration and the police must ensure that major roads are not blocked due to the rallies and that a part of the road must be left for vehicular movements.

Despite clear guidelines from the SC and various High Courts, the political parties continue to flout the laws while the Police and the Administration look on powerlessly. While rallies and demonstrations do have political overtones, hence part and parcel of democracy, the administration must see that the public don’t suffer during the frenzy of such demonstrations and rallies. This will happen only if the Administration and the Police come out of this casual approach towards such misconducts by political parties.