Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday directed the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) to come up with fresh dates by April 29 for its ‘maha dharna’. The protest was originally slated to be held on April 27 in the city.
The order was issued by Justice Abhinandan Kumar Shavili who was hearing a petition by MRPS leaders who sought directions to the state police to accord permission to their protest.
Government special counsel, on behalf of the police, told the court that the dharna was scheduled to be held at Indira Park, a thickly populated residential place. The MRPS had not come up with clear statistics before the police as to how many people would attend the meeting. “Without giving details of how many speakers will be there and whether any person belonging to any banned organisations will speak and without giving ample time to the police to deploy its force at the venue, the organiser cannot hold the maha dharna,” special counsel told the court.
He said that MRPS activists had resorted to arson and violence and damaged government property during 12 meetings for which permission was accorded earlier.
After his submissions, Justice Kumar asked Mr Harinath, counsel for the petitioners, why they could not postpone their meeting. Heeding the suggestion, counsel said he would come up with fresh dates on Monday.
Counsel informed the court that the Telangana government had removed a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, which was installed by the MRPS.
