RSS cancels route marches, to appeal against HC riders, Legal News, ET LegalWorld – Legal Firms

CHENNAI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has cancelled its scheduled route march, planned across the state, on Sunday. The organisation has decided to go in appeal against the Madras high court order that granted permission with riders for conducting route marches in 41 locations, after the state government submitted an intelligence report in a contempt petition.

The RSS felt the court restricting the route march to a compound such as ground or stadium was unacceptable. The route marches are held on public roads across the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala and West Bengal.

“RSS has been conducting its route march for the last 97 years across the country in an organised manner. The marches are held peacefully in all the states, including Tamil Nadu. RSS has decided to go for an appeal against the court order and will not hold the march as planned on November 6,” RSS south zone president R Vanniyarajan said in a statement.

The organisation had earlier decided to hold route marches in 50 locations on October 2 to commemorate the 75th year of Independence and 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

A high-level meeting of RSS office-bearers decided to call off the event, hours after the court endorsed the police decision to not permit route marches and public meetings in sensitive areas such as Coimbatore, Pollachi, Nagercoil, Palladam, Mettupalayam and Arumanai, especially after the recent car bomb blast in Coimbatore. The permission was granted in 41 places subject to conditions. The conditions are that no one shall either sing songs or speak ill of any individual, any caste and religion. None should indulge in any act disturbing the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The participants shall not bring any stick, lathi or weapon.

The state unit of the RSS had already made arrangements for rallies and public meetings. “The procession is to make the RSS known to the public. There is no point having it indoors. We will hold the march when the court permits the event on the roads. We work for the unity of the country, preserve its culture, and guide the youth and we are not enemies to anyone,” RSS Tamil Nadu (south) president A Adalarasan told TOI. The public meeting at the end of the procession was to talk about RSS and national issues, with the participants ranging between 500 and 3,000 depending on the location. He said the route marches have been taking place in the state for decades as per the conditions laid down by the local police.

Police on Wednesday permitted procession on roads and public meetings in Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Perambalur and indoor events in 23 places and rejected the requests in 24 more places, citing law and order issues.