No Rallies & Public Meetings on Roads in AP for Public Safety

Hyderabad: Citing public safety, the Andhra Pradesh government has banned public meetings and rallies from being held on roads, including national highways in the state.

The AP government order comes after the stampede at a rally held by the Telugu Desam Party at Kandukuru last week in which eight persons lost their lives.

The prohibitory order on public rallies and meetings on roads was issued late on Monday night under the provisions of the Police Act, 1861.

All district administrations and police machinery have been asked to identify “designated places away from public roads for the conduct of public meetings, which do not hamper the flow of traffic, public movement, emergency services, movement of essential commodities, etc.”

“The authorities should avoid permitting meetings on public roads. Only in rare and exceptional circumstances, permission for public meetings may be considered, with reasons recorded in writing,” the directive from the AP Principal Secretary said.

However, the opposition parties in Andhra have decried the government’s decision terming it to be “atrocious”.