Hyderabad: Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao has moved the Hyderabad High Court challenging the action of the Telangana state government in not permitting dharnas/hunger strikes/ processions/public meetings, within the limits of the city including at Dharna Chowk at Indira Park.
The petitioner brought to the notice of the court that originally Dharna Chowk was located at Lumbini Park, in front of the Secretariat, and the authorities permitted the various forms of civil protest for several decades. He submitted that in view of the construction of a flyover at the Secretariat and widening of the road at Lumbini Park in 1993, the Dharna Chowk was shifted to Indira Park.
He said that various sections of the people have come out to protest the failure of the government in resolving their demands and problems, but the state government has instructed the police authorities not to allow any sort of protests at Indira Park or in any open grounds like Nizam College, LB Stadium and NTR Stadium.
He urged the court to direct the respondents to give permission for holding peaceful protests within city limits including at Dharna Chowk.
