Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Thursday questioned how a rally carrying the national flag could lead to communal violence and why the govt was creating hurdles for such events when it should ideally support and encourage them.Observing that lawlessness would prevail if law-abiding citizens were prevented from exercising their rights, Justice T Madhavi Devi directed Hyderabad police to grant permission for two separate rallies, each restricted to 150 motorcycles.“Travelling with the national flag should not have any restrictions. It should be allowed everywhere, but you are creating obstructions,” the judge said.The remarks were made while hearing lunch-motion petitions challenging the denial of permission for the rallies. Police had cited law and order concerns, apprehensions of communal tension, assembly bandobast, Ganesh Chaturthi festivities and peak-hour traffic during the proposed timings of 10 am to 1 pm.The first rally is scheduled to be held on Sept 12 from Balapur to the Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar. The second, an all-women motorcycle rally, is proposed for Sept 15 from the Bhagyalakshmi Temple to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue near the assembly.Both events are being organised in connection with Telangana Liberation Day, observed on Sept 17.The first petition was filed by Andela Sriramulu Yadav, a social activist from Balapur, while the second was filed by Y Shilpa Reddy, BJP state mahila morcha president. The petitioners’ counsel argued that there was no reason to assume that people carrying the Tiranga would clash with devotees celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. Counsel also contended that the Sept 15 rally would be held after the conclusion of the assembly session and sought directions permitting both events.Taking note of the arguments, the judge asked how many vehicles normally use the proposed routes and what difficulty would be caused by an additional 150 motorcycles. “You can change the timings of the rallies if it is peak traffic time. Without modifying the timings or offering alternative options, you are straightaway rejecting permission,” the judge noted.The judge subsequently directed the Hyderabad police commissioner to grant permission for both rallies, reiterating that it was the govt’s responsibility to make the necessary arrangements and ensure that law and order was maintained. The petitions were accordingly disposed of.
