Madras High Court has granted permission to Hindu Munnani to organise state-wide protests in Tamil Nadu against Hindu Genocide in Bangladesh
Chennai: In a landmark ruling, the Madras High Court has granted permission to Hindu Munnani to organise state-wide protests in Tamil Nadu on August 27, demanding that the Union government take immediate action against the ongoing genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh. The court’s decision marks a significant victory for Hindu groups in the state, who have often found themselves at odds with the Tamil Nadu government’s restrictive stance on their activities.
The Hindu Munnani’s plea was a response to the Tamil Nadu police’s consistent refusal to allow various Hindu religious events, including RSS route marches, Vinayagar Chathurthi immersion processions, and even a Tiranga national flag procession on the 78th Independence Day. The police have frequently cited concerns over the processions passing through minority-dominated areas or near mosques and churches as the reason for denying permission. However, the same restrictions have not been applied to events organized by other communities, such as Muharram, Bakrid, and Ramadan prayers, which have been permitted without issue.
In a stinging critique of the state government’s selective enforcement of these rules, the Madras High Court on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, questioned the inconsistency in the application of the law. Justice G. Jayachandran, who delivered the ruling, pointed out the double standards, noting that while protests in Tamil Nadu expressing solidarity with Tamils in Sri Lanka or condemning the genocide in Gaza are allowed, similar demonstrations addressing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh are not.
Justice Jayachandran stated, “When demonstrations can be held in Tamil Nadu to show solidarity with Tamils in Sri Lanka, the same could be done for Hindus in Bangladesh.” The judge then directed the Tamil Nadu police to permit Hindu Munnani’s demonstrations, ensuring that the protests would not disrupt the free flow of traffic.
The court’s ruling came in response to a petition filed by Siva Vijayan, the Chennai secretary of Hindu Munnani. In his petition, Vijayan argued that since the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, there has been a marked increase in violence against minorities, particularly Hindus. He highlighted the international outcry over issues such as the Palestine conflict, contrasting it with the deafening silence on the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. Vijayan emphasized the need for the Central government to act swiftly to prevent further atrocities.
Senior counsel G. Karthikeyan, representing Hindu Munnani, argued that while numerous organizations and political parties have voiced concern over the situation in Gaza, there has been a conspicuous lack of support for minorities facing violence in Bangladesh.
The court’s intervention came after the Tamil Nadu government counsel asserted that the situation in Bangladesh had improved under the interim government, suggesting that there was no longer a need for such demonstrations. However, Justice G. Jayachandran rejected this argument, deeming it untenable.
On August 16, 2024, Justice Jayachandran had directed the government pleader to gather instructions and provide a rationale for the repeated denial of permission by August 21. After considering the arguments, the court ordered the Tamil Nadu police to allow Hindu Munnani’s peaceful demonstrations between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on August 27, ensuring that they do not disrupt road traffic.
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