No entry for politicians

APNGO leader Ashok Babu says meeting at any cost

Hyderabad : Arrangements are in place for the APNGOs Association sponsored “Save Andhra Pradesh” meeting to be held in the LB stadium in city Saturday.” Though the permission has been accorded for the participation of 15000 members of the APNGOs, the turn out expected could be more.

But no political leader will be able to make it to the LB stadium to participate in the meet. Some of the political leaders are however firm on demonstrating their solidarity with the APNGO fighting against the state bifurcation staging demonstration outside the Speaking to media persons, a day before what he called a “historic” meeting, the president of Association and meeting JAC Chairman, P Ashok Babu said that even though they had invited leaders from two political parties the conditions placed by police and High Court did not allow them to participate in it.

He maintained that meeting would be held at ‘any cost’. The odds being faced by the organization with the threats being held out by the various organizations would not have any dampening effect on the spirits of the APNGOs. All roads would lead to L B Stadium, he asserted.

The arrangements are being made to provide one lakh people, which include about 20,000 APSRTC employees and students from Coordination Committee. Earlier the organizers were expecting 15,000 employees from Hyderabad and 13-districts of Seemandhra, but overwhelming response has made them to make preparations for huge gathering.

Regretting the incident that happened near High Court, APNGOs president has demanded an inquiry into the incident. He recalled that similar incidents were witnessed earlier at Vidyut Soudha and Jala Soudha. He said that everyone has the right to express what they feel in a democracy and no one has the right to restrain it. A handful of people claiming to represent a region cannot judge, what majority of the people want. It should be judged by the people, the leader noted.

“As you have your own stand, we have ours. If some one’s standpoint is being diluted due to other, it would be considered weak stand”, he said. According Ashok Babu, the facts and figures which were considered to be benchmark earlier have already taken a ‘backseat’, The current scenario is completely driven by ‘political’ considerations. He believed that as the meeting was representing aspirations of 6 crore population , protesting for more than one month, it was the responsibility of everyone to provide a chance, so that their voices are heard.

“Considering the seriousness of the issue, even the High Court has given permission”, the leader opined. He made it clear that the organizers will allow employees, who has valid identity cards and asked them not to carry placards and banners on their way to the meeting ground. Lamenting that some of the organizations were bent up disturbing the meeting, he asked those attending the meeting to maintain patience, even if some tries to provoke. “In a democracy everyone has the right to conduct meeting, particularly when it is a peaceful meeting. If anyone tries to hinder this, it would ‘undemocratic’ move on the part of organisation or individual”, he exclaimed.

He stressing that it would be an awareness meeting where ‘issue of bifurcation and its disadvantages’ would be discussed, he assured that no one would be jeered at and no one’s sentiment would be hurt during the entire meeting.