HC verdict on Bhim Army rally today

HC verdict on Bhim Army rally today

Pune: After being denied permission for a public meeting at the SSPMS ground near Pune RTO, the Bhim Army moved the Bombay High Court on Sunday seeking a direction to the Pune police to allow the meeting at the ground on Monday. The hearing in the case will take place at 10 am on Monday. 

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan was to address the meeting, besides other speakers. 

The All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society (AISSMS) which owns the ground, wrote to Datta Pol,  Head of Bhim Army for Pune district, on Saturday stating that permission for the rally has been cancelled after instructions from the Pune city police.
 
Pol filed the petition for urgent hearing through lawyer Nitin Satpute and to grant permission to Bhim Army for the Koregaon-Bhima Sangharsh Mahasabha at the ground. The petition states, “All intellectual speakers were called to deliver their speeches viz. Rajratna Ambedkar (Indian Buddh Mahasabha),  Amol Meetkari and Sarfaraj Shaikh who are scholars of history and literature. Advocate  Chandrashekar Azad, who is the founder and chief of Bhim Army, was to also address the meeting alongwith other leaders. We had applied to the police for permission, but we did not get any reply from them. We had made huge expenditure for the public meeting and all arrangements were done by the Bhim Army. Suddenly on 29/12/2018 I saw the news on a TV channel that the police had refused permission but officially  I did not receive any intimation from the police authority.”

The petitioner stated that in the meeting the speeches will be delivered by the scholars and leaders in the interest of the downtrodden people and no hatred speeches will be delivered. The petitioner and organisation of Bhim Army will take care that no public law and order will be disturbed.

Pune Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham on Saturday said that the police had no role in granting permission, as the authorities of the ground where the meeting was to be held have cancelled their permission.  

A senior police officer said, “Last year there was a huge public meeting  before the January 1 programme at the Vijaystambh at Pernephata near Koregaon Bhima, which resulted in violence. Hence, we are not taking any chance this year.”

The High Court has asked police to put their side before the court on Monday. 

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