Govt mulling lifting ban on parade grounds

Government is likely to lift the ban on giving military parade grounds for public meetings, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley is understood to have conveyed to a delegation led by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today.
Briefing newspersons after the meeting, senior TRS leader and party deputy floor leader in the Lok Sabha B Vinod Kumar said that Jaitely told them that army authorities can let parade grounds for public meetings.
"Arun Jaitley, he told just now that he has lifted that ban and now onwards the army authorities can let it for any public meetings for political parties as well as any other party on case by case basis," he added.

Kumar said that the grounds can be used for public meetings only on days when it is unoccupied or not used by the army.
"What he (Jaitley) said is that in Indian democracy the land should be opened to anybody. Of course, if army is in need of that land in those particular dates, they cannot give. But, in the event the land is vacant or it is not used for any other purpose for the army, they can give it on rent for a day or two for any political party to hold their meetings," he added.
Kumar said that they are going to hold a public meeting on October 19th.

The TRS leader recalled that former Defence Minister A K Antony had banned allowing public meetings in parade grounds in Cantonment areas through out the country.