Unemployed People Rally Allowed Only On Outskirts

The Telangana JAC's proposed unemployed youths rally (Nirudyogula Rally) scheduled for Wednesday continues to be in a limbo with the Hyderabad High Court granting conditional permission for the organizers to hold the rally only from 11 am to 3pm and only in the Nagole Metro Rail Grounds on the city outskirts.

The High Court, while hearing a petition of the Telangana Vidhyavanthula Vedika, one of the wings of the TJAC headed by M Kodandaram, on Monday wanted the organizers of the rally to inform by Tuesday its reaction to a suggestion to postpone the rally from February 22 to February 26 (from Wednesday to Sunday) and also shift the venue from the city.

The High Court was approached by the petitioners after the police refused permission for the rally on the plea that it was bound to trigger a law and order problem.

The TJAC Steering Committee, along with various students and youth organizations, deliberated the same at the residence of Kodandaram, and it was felt that there was no point in postponing the rally to another date. Instead, as a compromise, the TJAC wanted permission for organizing the rally either on the Osmania University campus or in the Nizam College grounds, and the same was intimated to the court.

The court then advised the organizers to file a fresh application to the police for permission and directed the police authorities to convey the decision by 3:30 pm today. The TJAC accordingly applied to the East Zone police authorities for the necessary permission for holding the rally on the OU Campus or the Nizam College Grounds.

However, the OU Vice-Chancellor reportedly refused to permit any rally either on the OU campus or in the Nizam College grounds, and hence the East Zone police authorities refused permission to the TJAC for the rally, and the High Court was accordingly informed.

Thereupon, the petition filed in the High Court was withdrawn. The court then announced its order granting conditional permission for holding the rally. As per the court order, the TJAC is permitted to hold the rally in the Metro Rail Grounds at Nagole on the outskirts of the city from 11 am to 3 pm.

The TJAC steering committee and the various units of students and other organizations besides senior leaders then went into a huddle discussing the next move. The organizers were in a fix over whether to hold the rally on the outskirts of the city.

It is learnt that some student and youth leaders were adamant on holding the rally within the city limits as messages had already been sent to various organizations all over the State in this regard, and the rally would have no impact if it were to be held on the city outskirts.