Cops hurdle for Andhra Spring

​Vijayawada/Visakhapatnam: Freedom of expression through social media comes under a fresh threat from the police in Andhra Pradesh ahead of a unique protest called by unidentified group of netizens on the RK beach in Visakhapatnam on January 26, as if replicating the form of recent Marina beach protest.

Regardless of the warnings sounded by Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, a principal ally of the TDP-NDA ruling combine, AP DGP N Sambhasiva Rao on Tuesday sought to depict the proposed RK beach demonstration as ‘illegal’ on the ground that the programme is being organized by some groups with suspicious track record without a prior permission from the law enforcement agencies.

Reacting to the police curbs, Pawan Kalyan tweeted, “#AP demands Special Status. “AP government should allow youth for a peaceful protest which they had planned. No one can deny their right in democracy. If they are not allowed to voice their protest, you are creating unrest in them. Peaceful protest is their right.”

However, the DGP firmly stated, “The police could not allow peace and tranquillity to slip into the hands of some unknown and ‘suspicious’ elements protesting in the guise of netizens. Public safety is our top priority. We cannot allow the protest to happen as the identity of the organizers is not yet established and no one approached police so for seeking permission,” he said.

In the same breath, the top cop offered guarded replies on the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution at a media conference. “The police are never against anyone exercising their right as long as it is done within the established framework of rules and it will not go against the rights of others,” Sambhasiva Rao observed.

The DGP said the print and electronic media houses could be pinned down for their omissions and commissions as their operators are accountable to every write-up/visual unlike published and aired unlike in the new media.

He further appealed to the civil society and elders to desist the youth from taking part in the beach protest as it is likely to trigger violence. “There is no one coming out openly claiming leadership responsibilities and that the protest is quiet likely to incite violence,” he said.

He wanted all the concerned citizens to understand the context under which the protest is planned—the Republic Day on January 26 and the Partnership Summit on January 28 and help dissuade youth from joining the protest.

Meanwhile, the warnings from the police boss seemingly fail to deter the “Young Turks” from taking a plunge into the beach protest. This is how one could assess the mood of the youths in Visakhapatnam city. It appears that the young protesters are likely to go ahead with candle light march regardless of curbs and heavy presence of police.

Meanwhile, a host of student and youth organizations of different hues are getting ready to join the protest in an obvious bid to cash in on the youth sentiment.