JOIN USThe Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday allowed Jaganmohan Reddy’s YSR Congress to hold a “Samaikya Shankharavam” here, but with a few riders.
The court observed that speakers should not make provocative speeches to incite the crowd against Telangana.
Besides, the rally should be held between 2 pm and 5 pm. On October 12, the Hyderabad police had refused to grant the YSRC permission to hold the rally on October 19, arguing that it could cause unrest at a time when the state was witnessing massive protests against the Center’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
YSR Congress leaders had approached the court after the police refused them permission to hold the rally in Hyderabad. YSRC general secretary Siva Kumar had petitioned before the high court in the form of a House motion.
Speaking to the media, YSRC’s M V Mysura Reddy said: “The court’s ruling shows that democracy is robust in the country. The public meeting will be held at the L B Stadium.” As it would be difficult to organise the meeting at a short notice, it may be deferred to October 24, party leaders said. The APNGO spearheading the Samaikyandhra movement is yet to take a call on participating in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Greater Hyderabad Congress committee, led by its president and state minister Danam Nagender, has organised a protest against an apparent “disrespect” to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Some miscreants had apparently erected a tomb in Tirupati and put Gandhi’s photo on it.
In retaliation, some PCC office-bearers in Tirupati, led by local leader Navin Kumar Reddy, built a tomb of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu. The Congress, YSRC and TDP leaders then embarked on a mud-slinging exercise, blaming each other for the state’s division.
Tempers are also rising in Seemaandhra with Union ministers like Killi Kriparani and Purandhareswari openly saying that the bifurcation was inevitable. In a terse response, Sake Sailajanath, Seemandhra minister and convener of the Seemandhra People’s Representatives’ Forum, said: “The leaders should go and tell the same thing to the people.”