Hyderabad: Bike rallies taken out by political parties are causing serious traffic congestion in the city. They are also violating traffic rules with impunity. Permission for these disruptive rallies has been accorded by the city police (law and order).
Pictures of party leaders riding two-wheelers without helmets have gone viral on social media. None of them has been fined, despite the clear violation. The public is questioning the ease with which party leaders and workers get away with violating traffic rules, while ordinary people are hauled up.
Jagadeeshwar Goud, corporator from Madhapur shared a video of a TRS bike rally from PJR stadium to Madhapur.
It was clear in this video that than none of the party workers or political leaders were wearing a helmet. Ananth Saradhi, a netizen said, “No helmets for any of them? Is it okay? Nobody should get away with violating traffic rules.”
The lack of communication between the law and order police who give permission for political rallies and the traffic police is one of the reasons for traffic congestions and snarls at some junctions.
The traffic police are unprepared because they are not told about the rallies.
This does not, however, excuse them from not fining the bikers for traffic violations.
B. Rajashekar, who works in a software firm and volunteers for traffic duties, said that “Flouting rules is a common sight in many of these bike rallies, irrespective of parties. People contesting in the elections should lead by example, but they are the ones who flout the rules first. Politicians should remember that people judge them by their deeds and not words.”
Akhilesh Rao, a commuter, said, “None of the party candidates has a good record. The people who enact rules and regulations don’t follow the rules. We can’t pressurise the government to take action against them. If a traffic cop takes action he will immediately get a call from the concerned political party.”
Mujeeb Khan, a social activist from Old City said, “After the election dates were announced it became a daily routine for the party to intrude into our private spaces, violate rules and disturb our peace. We can see political party workers campaigning on two-wheelers violating the rules like riding without helmet, driving on the wrong side etc. From early morning another major problem is the marfa (a celebratory, rhythmic music and dance in Hyderabad) which is disturbing and hazardous to heart patients and children and increases the sound pollution in the neighbourhood.”
Oddly enough, the traffic police claim to know nothing about the violations by the rallyists. Anil Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, told this newspaper, “It hasn’t come to our notice till now. However, political rallies are generally taken care of by law and order police. If any traffic violation comes to our notice we will take action accordingly.”
