UP govt sets tough norms for holding rallies/agitations in state

| Last updated less than one minute ago

Submit :

News Photos Just In Debate Topic Latest News Articles Local News Blog Posts Pictures Reviews Recipes

RATAN SHARGA

29 April, 2011

UP government has set tough norms for holding public rallies. A government order stated that if private or public property is damaged then compensation will be recovered from the organisers, and legal action would be initiated against them.

PLANNING TO hold a rally in Uttar Pradesh? Want to stage a dharna in Lucknow? Thinking of an agitation to block roads and rail movement across UP, then think again. You might land in trouble and can invite legal proceedings against your organisation and party?

This is because the new government order (GO) from the Mayawati government will prevent you from doing so as the state government has come up with new guidelines for the organisations who want to take out political rallies, dharnas, demonstrations and agitations in the state.

The state government came out with the GO on Wednesday, a decision that is being looked upon as a political move to clip the wings of social activist Anna Hazare whose visit was due in the state capital in the month of May.

Though the GO has already started receiving criticism from all political parties except the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) where leaders of different political outfit feel the GO as totally unconstitutional and they alleged that the state government wanted to function in an autocratic manner.

Now all the political parties who want to demonstrate in the state have to seek prior permission from the district authorities for holding any such event.

While briefing the media, Principal Secretary, Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur said that the state government had issued the GO to all divisional commissioners, district magistrates, IGs, DIGs, SSPs and SPs, and has asked them to follow it in letter and spirit. Besides, there have been orders and guidelines from the High Court and Supreme Court on the matter, and these have to be followed as per the directives of the apex court.

Now, for holding dharnas and rallies at the district headquarters, a written permission will have to be sought from the DM/ ADM/ city magistrate and for organising any event at the tehsil level, one needs to take permission from the ADM and SDM respectively.

The local police station and local intelligence units must also clear the same and in case of any damage reported in the said programme/ event, the district/state/national president of the party will be held responsible, and damages would be recovered from him or from his party.