The Madras High Court on Friday granted permission for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-kilometer roadshow in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, scheduled for March 18, albeit with certain conditions.
A bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh issued the directive to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, R S Puram Range, based on a petition filed by J Ramesh Kumar, BJP District President of Coimbatore. The petition challenged an order denying permission to the BJP to conduct the roadshow on Monday.
In his petition, Ramesh Kumar stated that he had applied for permission with the police on March 14 to conduct a roadshow spanning four kilometers via Mettupalayam Road in Coimbatore. The purpose was to enable people to meet the Prime Minister.
The roadshow aimed to sensitize the people of Coimbatore about various welfare schemes launched by the PM and encourage them to avail themselves through Direct Benefit Transfer without any interference from touts. Additionally, it aimed to promote the habit of rejecting drugs, considering recent incidents of hazardous drug trafficking in Tamil Nadu.
He mentioned that his application was rejected citing reasons such as the maintenance of law and order, peace, and potential disturbance to public tranquility in Coimbatore if the roadshow were to take place. Security threats were also cited.
Ramesh Kumar argued that the order was arbitrary and contrary to the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India. He asserted that the reasons provided for refusal were unreasonable. Despite his willingness to comply with any conditions imposed, the police overlooked this and refused permission, seemingly for political reasons.
