This refers to your news report captioned “Gurujis’ rally chokes City artery” in January 3 issue of Bhopal Live. It is indeed so shocking and distressing that in the capital City of Bhopal such things are allowed to happen, particularly when the Government makes lofty promises of making Bhopal the Paris of India.
When the basic rights of the law-abiding citizens who have a right to use the public roads without any hindrance or obstruction created by such rallies is not guaranteed and the police are asked to make law and order arrangements, which in modern parlance means that the police should remain mere passive spectator to the excesses being committed by political parties or agitating groups like this.
I had myself gone to New Market on January 2 evening for some important work and whichever road I took I was asked either to turn around or take a detour. It was so annoying that for a job which should have taken me just 15 minutes, I had to waste one hour and just in order to prevent any damage to my car and injury to myself, if I had the “audacity” to exercise my right of passage on a public road, I had to go in circles.
The police should register criminal cases under the Indian Penal Code against the organisers of such rallies if they do not listen to the voice of reason and law should be allowed take its course. There is a ruling from one of our High Courts to this effect that no political party or group has a right to take out rallies or have demonstrations on public roads interfering with the normal life and activities of the citizens. Such rallies and demonstrations at Roshanpura Naka and in New Market are almost a daily feature.
{{/usCountry}}The police should register criminal cases under the Indian Penal Code against the organisers of such rallies if they do not listen to the voice of reason and law should be allowed take its course. There is a ruling from one of our High Courts to this effect that no political party or group has a right to take out rallies or have demonstrations on public roads interfering with the normal life and activities of the citizens. Such rallies and demonstrations at Roshanpura Naka and in New Market are almost a daily feature.
{{/usCountry}}Why the court’s orders are not being obeyed? Is it not a contempt of the court by the agitators / demonstrations and also by those responsible for maintaining law and order? Isn’t the police duty-bound to ensure safe and smooth passage to law-abiding citizens and general public or ensure smooth movement of the rallies?
SC Agarwal
Rtd DGP Bhopal