The Visakhapatnam police have refused to give permission to the mega rally proposed to be taken out by YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to inspect a medical collage at Makavarapalem in Anakapalli district on October 9.
The YSRCP is planning a roadshow from Visakhapatnam to Makavarapalem, covering nearly 63 kilometers, and has sought police permission for the same.
However, District SP Tuhin Kumar Sinha has refused permission for the roadshow, citing public safety and traffic issues.
He stated that permission would be considered only if Jagan opted to travel by helicopter.
Sinha said intelligence inputs indicated that large crowds were being mobilized at junctions along the national highway, which could disrupt traffic and cause public inconvenience.
“In view of the recent tragedy in Tamil Nadu, where 41 people died and over 100 were injured during actor Vijay’s roadshow in Karur, we are taking strict precautions,” the SP said.
He clarified that this was the reason behind denying permission for a 63-km convoy-based roadshow and added that the police would allow Jagan to land directly at the Makavarapalem medical college helipad if he chose to travel by air.
However, YSRCP leaders insisted that the tour would take place as planned. They recalled that similar restrictions were imposed during Jagan’s previous district visits but did not prevent strong public participation.
The leaders asserted that Jagan will definitely visit Narsipatnam to inspect the medical college, regardless of the police denial, making the upcoming tour a politically charged event once again.
