When the entire country is celebrating its 75 year of its independence, Tamil Nadu which once gave birth to so many patriots is now a place where a tricolour rally is blocked.
The Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, which marks the 75th anniversary of Independence Day, includes the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign. PM Modi has invited all residents to raise the national flag at their residences between August 13 and 15. The government has also approved the use of certain materials and machines for making the flags in order to ensure that the tricolour reaches across the length and breath of the country. PM Modi, through his social media account, is also encouraging everyone to change their display photo into tiranga.
In Tamil Nadu though, the police force in cahoots with the state government is doing everything it can to jeopardise the har ghar tiranga campaign. The police are randomly stopping the public and prohibiting them to carry the tricolor, they’re even denying permission in writing and arresting them. This makes us wonder whether we are in Pakistan or still under colonial rule. It is an open secret that the Justice Party and its off shoots Dravidar Kazhagam wanted British to continue their raj in India. The present DMK government’s action once again prove that they are no different from their erstwhile leaders in crushing the rights obtained after a struggle.
In Tirunelveli, defying the police, who refused to permit the tricolor flag procession, a large number Hindu Munnani cadre took out a march with tricolor flags on their hands on Friday evening to create an awareness among the public to hoist flags at their homes as part “har ghar tiranga” movement. When they started to march towards Melapalayam area (a muslim predominant area) from Palayamkottai VOC statute, led by Hindu Munnani vice president VP Jayakumar, police stopped them at the bus stand. DCPs Srinivasan, Saravanakumar and ACP Pradeep told them that they would not be allowed to go to Melapalayam and this led to a heated argument. They sat on the road protesting against police highhandedness. When the rallyists continued the march defying the orders, police arrested 27 people including Jayakumar, state secretary K Kutralanatham, P Sakthivel, Brahmanayagam.
According Kutralanathan “ we applied for permission to take out a bike rally at Melapalayam and Kuttam in Radhapuram union. The Inspector of police in a written communication dated 9th August denied permission saying the procession would pass through streets where Mosques are located and would create untoward incidents. “In Kuttam 50 Muslim families living and the chances of law and order problem. The procession would also pass through Christian fisherfolk hamlets. The route is heavily traffic congested area. ” he justified the reasons for denying permission in Melapalayam and Kuttam” .
Kutralanathan said it was shocking to see the stand police took. It is highly condemnable to deny permission for a tiranga rally in areas where minorities reside. Police action amounted to shielding the Muslims and Christians from the national mainstream. Even the police’s version that such procession would create problems is unacceptable and unthinkable”. He added that police would have allowed with a rider that only carry national flags and no Bharat Mata ki jai slogans.
Last week, in Coimbatore when BJP wanted to take out a tricolour flag rally, police arrested some part cadre. In Mayiladuthuraui, Muslims opposed the move to paint land mark clock tower with tri colours. It was only after Hindu outfits come into the picture, the tower shone in tricolours.
Hindu Munnani district secretary Brahamanayagam said during poll campaign, BJP and its allies were not allowed to canvas votes in Muslims dominated areas. During Vinayagar Chathurthi, a procession was stopped from going through the routes where mosques and Muslims houses are located.
And now we are not allowed to carry national flag in Bharat. What is the use of getting freedom? Is this the same land where 27-year old Kodi Kaatha Tirupur Kumaran who even while being thrashed and breathing his last still clung on to the tricolour? A land that produced satyagrahis like Kodi Kaatha is today witnessing the TN police and their political bosses denying permission for a flag procession due to flimsy reasons.
