AP Govt Bans Public Meetings And Roadshows

Today in the early hours, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has passed orders prohibiting public meetings, roadshows and any form of huge public engagement across the state. The decision came in as 11 deaths were reported in two separate stampedes during the public meetings conducted by the opposition.

Principal Secretary Harish Kumar Gupta of the Home Department directive was issued on Monday under the Police Act of 1861. “This decision was taken by implementing the 30 Police Act in the context of public meetings and rallies on the roads, which are causing inconvenience to the people and exposing shortcomings in their management. It has been clarified that the national, state, municipal, and panchayat raj roads in the state should be used only for the transportation of people and goods. The government advised the district officials to select alternative places for holding meetings in villages, towns, and cities.” said the secretary.

The decision is sharply condemned by the opposition as this comes ahead of TDP leader Nara Lokesh commencing his marathon padayatra — Yuva Galam — on January 27 and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan’s bus yatra across the state.