A petition seeking to ban the entry of Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi into Tiruchy was disposed of the Madurai Bench of the HC on Wednesday after the State submitted that it has stipulated that he should not make any communally inflammatory remarks at the party’s public meeting on September 26.
A Tiruchy resident had sought to ban Modi’s entry on the apprehension that he could make provocative statements which could disturb communal amity. When the petition was taken up for hearing by a bench, comprising Justices M Jaichandren and M Venugopal, the petitioner’s counsel contended that Modi had attracted the ire of rights groups for making inflammatory statements in the past and sought to restrain him from addressing the BJP meeting.
Additional Advocate General K Chellapandian, however, submitted that the State had given permission to Modi’s meeting with certain conditions and assurance that there should be no usage of inflammatory language which would promote animosity among communities. The speakers have also been asked to avoid making unwarranted comments against anyone. Also the organisers have been asked to refrain from bursting crackers or burning effigies.
The AAG submitted that the organisers have also been asked not to indulge in any propaganda that could go against national integrity.
Besides, 4,000 cops led by an ADGP, two IGs, five DIGs and 20 SPs would be deployed for security.
Recording the submissions, the bench disposed of the plea stating that it is for the State to decide on the issue.
Meanwhile, the BJP has left no stone unturned to make the mega event a major success. On his part, Modi is most likely to train his guns against the Congress and might touch Lankan Tamils issue, which has a resonance in Tamil political discourse.
BJP sources said Kailashnathan, an ex-IAS official of Gujarat government and a native of TN, is preparing the notes for Modi’s address. Already, the BJP has called for ideas and suggestions on key topics relevant to TN to be covered in Modi’s speech. Over 50,000 have registered online to be present at Youth Conference and this has enthused the organisers.