Amid the growing controversy over the simultaneously scheduled public meetings in support of writer Kancha Ilaiah and the Arya Vysya community, the city police on Thursday clamped Section 144 of IPC and Section 30 of the Police Act barring public gatherings and movement of the public in groups for 45 days in the city police commissionerate limits. The police had earlier announced that permission had not been given to both the organisers. While the JAC planned to take a rally with thousands of activists and hold a public meeting at the Gymkhana Grounds on October 28, the Arya Vysya Sangham, up in arms against the deliberate intent of holding meeting in the area dominated by the Vysya-Brahmin population, announced the public meeting at the same venue on the same day. The JAC had acquired ground permission from the Municipal Corporation on October 9 and paid the rent. It applied for police permission a few days later.
On Thursday the JAC, the Sangham and the police made their stand clear in separate press conferences held one after the other.
In the afternoon, the JAC members led by convenor Y. Koteswararao said they would hold the rally and the meeting as per the schedule. “We have not received any response from the police about denial of permission. The JAC has first applied for the permission and the police should inform us instead of passing on the information to media,” said B. Rayappa, co-convenor of the JAC and State organising secretary of the Dalita Hakkula Poratala Samiti (DHPS).
Later in the evening, the Arya Vysya Sangham representatives said they would confront the meeting if it were to happen. “We welcome the denial of permission by the police. However, if they fail to stop the JAC activists, the Arya Vysya Sangham will confront them,” said Doondi Rakesh.
Later, DCP Kranti Rana Tata told media notices had been sent to the representatives of both the parties and any attempts to breach the tranquillity would be strictly dealt with. Meanwhile, the JAC is expecting participation of over 3,000 activists from across the State.
