AP HC allows farmers yatra, hours after police denial

AMARAVATI: Just hours after Andhra Pradesh police denied permission for the Amaravati farmer's Maha Padayatra, the Andhra Pradesh High Court gave a nod to the yatra on Friday.

Farmers planned the yatra to be launched on September 12, demanding that Amaravati remained the State capital and development activities continued.

The Court, which heard the petition as the first case on Friday, directed the Amaravati farmers to apply for permission today and instructed the police to examine the application positively. The High Court also advised the farmers to seek permission for the public meeting to be held after the completion of Maha Padayatra.

It was known that Director General of Police Rajendranath Reddy denied permission for Maha Padyatra citing that there could be a breach of peace and harmony during the yatra. He also recalled incidents from last year's padayatra, from Amaravati to Tirupati, where rules were violated by farmers.

The DGP sent orders to Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi (APS) general secretary Gadde Tirupati Rao to review the situation.