Stampede incidents: Andhra Pradesh govt restricts political rallies, meetings on roads

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh government issued orders restricting rallies and public meetings on public roads and highways in the state.
The restrictions came following the stampede incidents registered at the public meetings conducted by TDP at Kandukur and Guntur recently.
Home department on Monday issued orders directing the superintendent of police across the state not to issue permissions for tallies and public meetings on roads, road margins considering the safety of the public. The restrictions were imposed as per the regulations in Police Act-1861.
The home department in its orders stated that the national and state highways are designed for high-speed connectivity across the country to ensure logistical integration. Public meetings on these highways will hamper the trade. No licence be granted for any application seeking permission to conduct a meeting on state and national highways. The applicants are directed to search for alternatives to conduct the meetings and gatherings.
Similarly, meetings are not allowed on municipal roads and panchayat roads, which are meant for the free movement of people. However, in rare and exceptional circumstances and for reasons to be recorded in writing, any application could be considered.
The police may suggest alternative locations away from public roads subject to the condition that the meetings should not obstruct free flow of traffic on public roads and for the safety of the traveling public.
Government's decision sparked a major controversy. Opposition parties alleged that the state government intentionally passed orders to suppress the rallies and Padayatra taken up by the opposition parties. BJP state secretary Nagothu Ramesh Naidu alleged that YSRCP is afraid of opposition parties and hence trying to control their rallies and meetings showing one incident.