Telangana HC allows Bandi Sanjay's Bhainsa padayatra, but with conditions

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday gave permission to BJP Telangana chief Bandi Sanjay to hold a public meeting followed by his Praja Sangrama Yatra outside Bhainsa town in Nirmal District.

On Monday afternoon, the Telangana BJP, represented by its general secretary Gujjula Premendar Reddy, filed a house motion petition in the High Court Division Bench of Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy seeking clearance for the Praja Sangrama padayatra phase 5 and public meeting at Bhainsa.

On behalf of the petitioner, senior counsel and ex-MLC N. Ramachandra Rao informed the court that earlier, too, the BJP had held a meeting at Charminar and it concluded peacefully. Why is the state then objecting to the Bhainsa public meeting and padayatra without any substantial issue? they asked.

Additional advocate general J. Ramachander Rao informed the court that the application of BJP general secretary says permission is sought for Praja Sangrama Yatra. Sangrama means "war." On whom is BJP declaring a war? he asked and observed that the state is concerned as there have been instances of communal clashes in the region. Due to that, it is not appropriate to accord permission to BJP to hold the Praja Sangrama Yatra as there is every possibility of spread of communal hatred and disharmony, he stated.

The additional advocate general further noted that as 6 December (Babri Masjid demolition anniversary) is approaching, the police are keeping a vigil in the area. Moreover, Bhainsa is a communally sensitive area and if earlier incidents are ignored, then it will be a problem, he noted.

BJP counsel N. Ramachandra Rao informed the court that the state has no record of communal issues during the first four phases of Bandi Sanjay's padayatra. It is an apprehension of the police that there will be communal disharmony. Moreover, it is the duty of the police to keep things under control, he added.

Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy asked why the BJP can't shift the venue of the meeting. Counsel N. Ramachandra Rao informed the court that it was the police who picked this venue. How can the venue be changed at this juncture when all arrangements have been made? he asked.

Hearing all the contentions, Justice Vijaysen Reddy permitted the Telangana BJP to hold the meeting with certain conditions.

Conditions apply

The conditions are that the party shall give an advance route map to the police to maintain law and order. BJP will ensure that none of its leaders and party workers raise slogans and hurt religious sentiments. Further, the participants shall not carry any sticks, and the time allotted for the meeting is 3 p.m to 5 p.m. It should end by 5 p.m, the court said.

Further, the court directed that the police shall ensure that no untoward incidents occur. The police are at liberty to take action against violators of conditions imposed by the court, it said. Additionally, the BJP shall be indemnified for any damage to public property.

If for any reason the meeting and padayatra are not conducted on 28 November, the BJP is permitted to hold it on 29 November with the same conditions imposed by the court.

Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy, in the order, made it clear that the Y-junction where the meeting will be held should be beyond 3 km from Bhainsa. If it is within 3 km, then the BJP has to shift the venue to another place. He made it clear that if Y-junction is 3 km away from Bhainsa, only then the police should permit the meeting.