HC seeks details of anti-CAA protests across TN

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy passed interim directions on a plea seeking to stall the continuous protests transpiring in Salem and restrain students below the age of 18 from participating in such protests.

When the plea was taken up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that such continuous protests were happening in Chennai like the one progressing in Salem creating severe hassles for the public. Hence, the holding of such protests daily should be curtailed, he argued.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted though the petition mentioned only about the protest in Salem, similar agitations were being staged in different places across the state affecting the public. In Salem, several protestors, including children, were staging the agitation close to the bus stand, causing “huge inconvenience” to the public, he said.

A detailed response from the government on the action taken against protests without any permission was required, counsel added.

In the interim period, the bench directed the DGP to submit a report about the anti-CAA protests being held in various parts of Tamil Nadu.

Recording the submissions, the bench ordered the government to file its response on the action taken against the protests and adjourned the petition.

However, with counsel appearing for the government seeking more time since the Advocate-General is set to appear in the case and make submissions on behalf of the government, the bench posted the case to further hearing to March 13.

Tension mounted following a quarrel between members of two communities in Coimbatore on Monday.

Police said the members of Hindu outfits had commenced a pro-CAA protest at Gandhipuram, when a member of other community allegedly took photos of them.

“A quarrel broke out in this regard and members of both the communities gathered at the spot in large numbers. As the situation turned tense, over 100 police were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Police officials then intervened and pacified the warring members of both the communities,” the police said.

Tight security is in place in Coimbatore city. Police officials claimed that an investigation is on into the issue. The members of Hindu outfits have begun an indefinite protest similar like the Coimbatore’s Shaheen Bagh protest organised by Muslims.

Meanwhile, the Coimbatore police have warned of strict action against those spreading false information with an intention to trigger communal hatred. In a tweet, the city police have asked people not to spread and believe fake news in social media.

It comes in response to a fake post that an eatery in Coimbatore has been serving food laced with tablets to make people of a particular community impotent. Police are probing.

Traders from Thanjavur downed their shutters and staged a day’s hunger strike against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday.

The traders’ union, along with various Opposition political parties, organised a hunger strike at Mariamman temple bazaar after closing their shops. They raised slogans against the Centre for attempting to implement the CAA and the NRC which targets minority people, especially the Muslims.

They demanded to withdraw the CAA and appealed not to divide the people by religion. Shops in the entire stretch of the bazaar remained closed till 5 pm.

Meanwhile, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president MH Jawahirullah, who addressed the protesters at Adiyakkamangalam in Tiruvarur district, said the state government should pass a resolution against the CAA and publish it as a Government Order and ensure the people that these amendments are made by the BJP-led Centre. “Until the state government initiate steps, the protests would continue across the state,” Jawahirullah stressed.

He pointed out that a democratic nation should respect the people from all walks of life and should consider the protests by the people which has been organised in a peaceful way, he said.

The protests have been continuing in various places across the region, including Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai,  Muthupettai, Papanasam and Pudukkottai.

Meanwhile, members from Muslim outfits, who have been continuing their sit-in protest for the 16th consecutive day in Tiruchy Uzhavar Sandhai ground, demanded the Centre to withdraw their decision on the CAA, NPR and the NRC. More number of Muslim women took part in the protest and raised slogans against the Centre and the State government.

Leaders from several outfits visit the protesters and express their solidarity to their protest.