VCK, left approached HC against ban to hold social harmony rally

CHENNAI: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and left parties have approached the Madras High Court with petitions challenging the order of the state government rejecting permission to conduct the rally for social harmony.

VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) 's state secretary K Balakrishnan, and Communist Party of India's state secretary R Mutharasan have filed the petitions.

According to the petitioners, they have planned to conduct a rally on October 2 to insist on the essence and importance of social harmony in the country.

The petitioners claim that they submitted a representation on September 27 to the state police seeking permission to hold the rally and human chain movement. However, the police rejected the petition on the ground that they could not allow the rally as it would disturb the law and order situation.

Police further cited the ban on Popular Front India and RSS' move to conduct the route marches in TN on October 2.

"The police should not consider us on par with the RSS. We are of the parties are planning to conduct the rally for unity and social harmony in the nation, " the petitioners said in the affidavit.

The HC is likely to take to the petition once the registry completes the numbering formalities.

It could be noted that the Chennai City Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal on Saturday announced that the city police will not grant permission to anyone to hold rallies for the next 15 days in Chennai due to the existing law and order situation.