Permission granted to pro-CAA programme in Hyderabad after change in venue

Hyderabad: Hyderabad police had denied permission to ‘Chalo Charminar’, a pro-CAA rally called by right-wing groups in Hyderabad on February 2. However, following change in venue, permission was granted.

The pro-CAA meeting, which is organised by Akhand Bharath Sangharsh Samithi, Bhagyanagar is to be held on the coming Sunday at 6 in the evening at Qutub Shahi grounds. Earlier, it was announced that the meeting will be held at Charminar, for which permission was denied.

A.R Srinivas, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone had tweeted saying that no permission has been given to the pro-CAA meeting. “On social media some groups/ parties are giving call for Chalo Charminar on 2 Feb at 4 PM. It is clarified that NO SUCH PERMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN. Public is requested not to get misguided by such social media posts.”

The programme, in support of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Registry of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), is to be held inside Qutub Shahi stadium, opposite City College, Hyderabad, from 6 pm to 9 pm, with no more than 3,000 participants, as per the permission letter.

Speaking to NewsMeter, A Bhaskar, convenor of Akhand Bharat Sangharsh Samiti said that “permission has been given to the pro-CAA programme, only that venue has been changed. It will be held at Qutub Shahi stadium tomorrow.”

Amidst rising opposition against CAA in the city, Hyderabad police had denied permission to several protests. Earlier on Republic Day, Hyderabad police had arrested Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad to prevent a “law-and-order” situation. On January 20, permission was denied to actor Prakash Raj’s event which was to be held at Government Nizamia Tibbi College, while on January 12, former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was not allowed to speak in a public meeting in Hyderabad. Several protestors were also detained as part of an anti-CAA protest in the month of December last year in Hyderabad.