Tamil Nadu: RSS Route March approved to commemorate 99th foundation year

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T S Venkatesan

RSS Route March, commemorating the 99th foundation year of RSS and celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Saint Ramalinga Swamigal (Vadalur Vallalar) along with honouring the nationalistic ideals of Swami Vivekanandar and B.R. Ambedkar, will take place on the November 19.

Uttar Tamil Nadu RSS President, . Kumarasamy, expressed his satisfaction with the recent developments, noting that the Tamil Nadu government had initially denied permission for the rally, but after intervention from the Supreme Court, they granted their approval. He added, “RSS has undergone a long legal battle to get permission for the rally. Like last year, when we approached the police department seeking permission, they denied it. Then we moved to the Madras High Court and obtained permission. The DMK government, however, appealed in the apex court against the HC order. With that order, we approached DGP Shankar Jiwal for permission. The police offered two dates, November 19 and 26, with an option to select one. We have opted for November 19 for the Rally, and the police accepted it.”

Kumarasamy further clarified that if there are any objections from the police regarding the route due to the presence of places of worship, they are willing to make adjustments. However, the starting and ending points of the march will remain unchanged.

The RSS had faced initial hurdles when the Madras High Court granted permission for route marches on October 22nd and October 29, following a batch of petitions filed by RSS leaders. Instead of appealing the High Court’s decision, the DMK government chose to challenge it in the Supreme Court, leading to a series of legal proceedings.

On November 1st, the Madras High Court issued statutory notices to Home Secretary P. Amudha, Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal, and other officers, returnable within four weeks in connection with contempt petitions filed for their failure to grant permission for RSS route marches at various locations across Tamil Nadu. The court also directed them to appear in person during the next hearing to explain their stance.

RSS sources believe that the DMK government’s decision to make a U-turn in the Supreme Court was primarily to avoid having its Home Secretary and other officials appear before the High Court Judge in a contempt of court case for denying permission for the rally. They also sensed the mood of the Supreme Court and the unlikely possibility of receiving favourable orders, given last year’s Supreme Court rulings and objections raised by the government.

During a media interaction, Kumarasamy highlighted the resolutions adopted at the recent annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (Central Executive Council) of RSS, which is set to take place in Gujarat’s Bhuj from the 5th to the 7th of November.

The RSS route march in Tamil Nadu will not only be a celebration of its rich history but also a testament to the organization’s resilience in the face of legal challenges and obstacles. It serves as a reminder of the significance of preserving and promoting the ideals and values upheld by the RSS throughout its existence.

 

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