Cong Dalit dandora hits police blockade

Cops deny permission for meeting at Ibrahimpatnam

It seems troubles have begun for the Congress’ ‘Dalit Girijana Atma Gourava Dandora’ as police denied permission to conduct its second meeting at Ibrahimpatnam in Ranga Reddy district on August 18. Citing traffic problems, the police suggested that the Congress leaders change the venue.

Just four days ahead of the meeting, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) leaders are searching for an alternative venue.

After the Indravelli meeting in Adilabad district, the TPCC decided to conduct its second Dandora at Ibrahimpatnam. Congress leaders applied for permission for the meeting with Vikarabad ACP Yadagiri Reddy. Citing traffic problems at Ibrahimpatnam, the police denied permission.

Meanwhile, a TPCC delegation approached senior police officials who suggested they conduct the meeting at a venue beside the Outer Ring Road (ORR) instead of at Ibrahimpatnam. Congress leaders suspect that their political opponents might be behind the police denying permission for the dandora.

Former MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy said they would shift the venue. A location on the border of Ibrahimpatnam and Maheshwaram Assembly

segments at ORR was finalised on Friday to conduct the meeting, he said. Denial of permission by the police affected arrangements for the meeting, he said. There was no change of date or time, just the venue, he added.

The new venue, apparently, is still not finalised.

Speaking to this newspaper, Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh M. Bhagawat said they were verifying the feasibility of the venue. LB Nagar DCP and other officials were verifying the details, he said. Considering that around 40,000 people may attend the meeting, police would check all aspects, he explained.

Meanwhile, Bhuvanagiri MP Komatireddy

Venkat Reddy told TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy that he would be unable to attend the August 18 meeting as he would be attending parliamentary committee meetings. Reportedly, Venkat Reddy agreed to meet Revanth Reddy on August 14 to discuss the meeting, when party senior leaders approached him in this regard.On the other hand, TPCC conducted a preparatory meeting on dandora programme at Gandhi Bhavan on Friday. TPCC working president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud interacted with Assembly constituency coordinators. He told them that antiDalit and Girijan policies of the TRS government should be brought to the notice of people.