Cops rule out permission for farmers’ protest on Marina

When the plea seeking permission came up for hearing before Justice T Raja on Thursday, the Commissioner filed a counter stating that the possibility of various other anti-social groups participating in the protest fast and creating law and order problems could not be ruled out if such a protest was allowed to be held in Marina. 

Further, stating that permission to go on an indefinite fast for 90 days cannot be granted as it is humanly impossible, physically incompatible and may have serious repercussions, the counter submitted that all political parties like DMK and AIADMK were given only one day for any demonstration, and that too from morning till evening. 

Moreover, the places for conducting agitations were already earmarked – near Valluvar Kottam, Quaid-e-Milleth memorial in Chintadripet, and near State Guest House in Chepauk, the counter said.

Ayyakannu had moved the High Court seeking permission for the fast, submitting that setting up of CMB was a long pending demand of Tamil Nadu. Despite a direction from the Supreme Court to create it within 45 days, the Centre has failed to constitute the board. 

Therefore, demanding immediate constitution of the board, the hunger strike was planned to be staged. And Marina was chosen as the venue as Chennai does not have a vast ground to organise such a protest, the farmer leader had said. The case is poised to be taken up for orders on Friday.