TN police, which has now become a vassals of ruling DMK and obeying His Maters’ voice, despite a clear Madras High court order directing it to allow RSS pathsanchalan in 50 locations across the state on October 2, DMK government denied permission. It justified it by saying the march and counter-mobilization would cause grave implications to public order.
TN government explained in the wake of ban on PFI, it was not in a position to allow a route march when entire police force were pressed into round the clock service to thwart untoward incidents. Police said permission was denied for RSS as the situation was not conducive to hold the route march and the public meeting. “Central and state intelligence agencies had issued alerts following ban on PFI and its associates and action against them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967. We fear there is a possibility of some anti-social elements could resort to protest and activities that may disrupt peace and cause harm to public life and property” it said. Police also denied permission for VCK, CPI, CPI(M) to stage human chain demonstration against the RSS march on the same day. RSS moved a contempt of court petition in HC while the have also filed a plea seeking to review its order September 22 order.
On September 22, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan allowed the RSS plea but placed a few conditions for the route march. On September 26, VCK leader and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, objecting to the planned march on Gandhi Jayanthi, approached the Madras High Court to rescind its order. In his arguments, he pointed out that in the early 1940s, the RSS had prohibited its volunteers from participating in the Quit India movement, and claimed that it had thereby betrayed the country. He claimed that the RSS’ agenda was to create communal disturbance. On September 27, senior advocate N.G.R. Prasad, appearing before Justice Ilanthiraiyan, requested that Thirumavalavan’s petition against the route march be heard. The judge said that it would be taken up as a matter of routine. On September 28, after a local police station in Tiruvallur district, adjoining to Chennai district, denied permission for the RSS march, a contempt notice was served on the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Tiruvallur Superintendent of Police, and the Inspector who denied permission. The notice said that if the authorities did not grant permission, they would be hauled up for contempt. Police officials in most other districts also passed similar orders, taking into consideration the larger public good. The ball is now back in the Madras High Court. The first bench comprising Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice D Krishnakumar said the SC only has the appellate jurisdiction to hear the criminal writ petitions and declined the plea of Thirumavalavan as he is not a party in the case.
The DMK which tried all tricks in its bag to appease the Muslims and to stop the procession, asked its ally VCK to approach court. When the court directs to give permission, DMK government has asked its police machinery to deny permission on flimsy grounds. TN BJP Annamalai comedown heavily on the TN government. He wondered whether the TN police is struggling to control law and order and the state is not under its control? The route march was taken out every year and even during Karunanidhi was chief minister; it is being taken out in all over the country. Why TN is not granting permission to it in spite of a court direction? Police has no right to deny permission but duty bound to give protection as it is a fundamental right to take out procession, organize public meetings without affecting the public order. The police explanation is shocking and if its reasons for denial of permission is true, is PFI still capable and stronger enough to cause law and order problems? If it is so, then it will be assumed that the state is not under the control police” he said in a statement.
