Security up near Soudha for Cong rally

Security up near Soudha for Cong rally
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: If you are heading towards MG Road and Cubbon Park for your weekend fun, you must read this.
The city police have clamped prohibitory orders to prevent any untoward incident on Saturday as the Congress has decided to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha to prevent ministers from entering the building.
While the Congress has promised to make the protest, starting from 10.30 am, a peaceful one, there could be traffic jams and chaos around Vidhana Soudha and its vicinities.
Not more than 150 leaders will take part in the protest. On whether it was possible to execute this siege, KPCC chief R V Deshpande quipped: “Just wait and watch.” Today, venture out at your own risk Cong To Lay Siege To Vidhana Soudha Ban Orders Clamped No Traffic Diversions
Bangalore: A confrontation between the BJP government and the opposition Congress seems to be on the cards over the latter’s ‘capture-Soudha’ protest.
While the Congress has promised to make the protest starting from 10.30 am a peaceful one, the police, in an unprecedent move, have clamped prohibitory orders in areas of four police station limits — High Grounds, Shivajinagar, Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha. The orders will be in force from 6 am to 6 pm.
But surprisingly, the traffic police have not issued any road restrictions or diversions.
A traffic police official said no diversions will be in place and if there are any traffic obstructions, on-field officers will handle the situation.
Opposition leader in the legislative assembly Siddaramaiah said: “We are capturing Vidhana Soudha peacefully. There will be no traffic jam. We will not violate the prohibitory orders, but my party legislators will be inside Vidhana Soudha at 9.30 am as I have convened a meeting.’’
Defending the prohibitory orders, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said: “These are not good times. We have terrorist threats. We should be careful. We have no say in this. The officers have taken the decision.’’ Normally, prohibitory orders are imposed around 1 km radius of Vidhana Soudha, during protests or rallies.
Saturday’s orders extend to as far as Palace Grounds to Vasanthnagar to Russel Market to K R Circle.
The areas under prohibitory orders — Vidhana Soudha surroundings, Raj Bhavan Road, Thimmaiah Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, Cubbon Park, K R Circle, Maharani College Road, Russel Market, Queen’s Road, Ghousia Hospital Road, Thimmaiah Road, Station Road, Basaveshwara Circle, Vasanthnagar, Palace Grounds, Race Course Road, Madhav Nagar, Shivananda Circle, Cunningham Road.
Those who violate the order will be prosecuted under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), which attracts a punishment of simple imprisonment of one month to six months or with fine or with both.
Exercising his powers under section 35 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, city police commissioner Shankar Bidari has said some activities are prohibited.
NOT ALLOWED
Assembly of five persons Carrying of lethal weapons Shouting of slogans or obstruction of traffic Taking out processions Burning effigies
Congress keeps battle strategy a secret
The Congress on Friday was reticent about revealing its strategy to ‘awaken the government from its slumber’ by laying siege to Vidhana Soudha on Saturday.
“We have called a meeting in Vidhana Soudha to chalk out strategies to be adopted in the next few months to protest against the BJP government,” KPCC president R V Deshpande said on Friday.
Not more than 150 leaders will take part in the protest. “Only our party’s sitting and former legislators will take part,” he maintained.
On whether it was possible to execute this siege with 150 persons when over 1,000 policemen are likely to cordon off the entire area, Deshpande quipped: “Just wait and watch.”
He said the BJP government has failed on every front and chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has no moral standing to govern the state.
“The disappointment of the people will be visible in the protest,” he added. TNN