Ram rath yatra on final leg denied permission to enter Keelakarai

The Rath, which entered Tamil Nadu via Tirunelveli, on Tuesday, continued its journey on Thursday morning from Rameswaram at 7 am. Surrounded by police on both the sides, the Rath moved slowly in the beginning. 

When it crossed the Pamban bridge, Sri Sakthi Santhananda Maharishi, who led the Ramrajya Ratha Yatra, walked on the bridge. Then the Ratha Yatra proceeded via East Coast Road (ECR). When the Ratha tried to enter Keelakarai, police denied permission for it. 

There were arguments between the members who accompanied the Ratha and police, however, no permission was granted. In the meantime, a section of men attached to various outfits staged protest against the Ratha Yatra in Keelakarai and were arrested. 

Half-an-hour later, the Ratha proceeded to Thoothukudi. When the members tried to offer prayers at Soorankudi they were stopped by police, but after obtaining permission a brief prayer was offered. 

Following that the Ratha proceeded to Thoothukudi Collectorate and then to Tirunelveli via bypass road. When the Ratha tried to enter Tirunelveli town it was once again denied permission and was made to travel on the bypass road to Kanniyakumari. 

Then in the evening, the Ratha entered Nagercoil and was halted in DVD colony. 

Though the Ratha Yatra members sought permission to conduct public meeting in Chettikulam area in Nagercoil, permission was denied to them. The Ratha Yatra is set to proceed to Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday morning.