Cops-Opposition on a collision course
‘Chalo Indira Park’ rally to test resolve of protesters
Going by the elaborate security arrangements in and around the Indira Park, it is clear that the Hyderabad police will leave no stone unturned to thwart Monday’s Opposition-sponsored ‘Chalo Indira Park’ rally demanding reopening of the Dharna Chowk.
Over 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the radius of the Dharna Chowk right from Sunday morning; barricades have been erected and razor wire protection has been put in place at all the entry points to the park.
Over 20 vehicles have been kept ready in and outside NTR Stadium to shift any activists who try dodging the security cordon and entering the ‘protected’ area on Monday.
Though there was no traffic advisory till Sunday evening, the massive security arrangements mean that the people travelling from RTC Crossroads towards the Lower Tank Bund road are in for a nightmarish experience due to the police blocking the road at the Indira Park Junction.
Meanwhile, a few locals from neighbouring LIC Colony and TRS workers held a small rally on Sunday in the area, defending the government’s decision on closure of Dharna Chowk.
They said that the Opposition parties cannot insist on holding rallies, public meetings and dharnas throughout the year since such activity disturbed their peace.
Kavadiguda TRS corporator G. Lasya Nandita told DC that the local people were not against the Opposition holding dharnas or protests but wanted the protesters to do it at some other place and “not cause inconvenience” to them.
“People have come and represented the issue to me several times. We are only against Dharna Chowk being located at Indira Park. There are several residential colonies, hospitals, educational institutions in the area. Protests here are quite inconvenient for the people,” she said.
However, Indira Park Walkers Association president Dr A. Sudhakar Yadav, said that the association was only interested in development of the park and would not comment on the political issues that take place outside.
He also said the walkers association would not comment either on demand to retain the Dharna Chowk there or close it permanently to restore peace to the area.
“Ours is the largest association, with about 5,600 members. There are walkers with different political affiliations, including me, hence we have decided not to comment,” Dr Yadav said.