CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday granted permission to the BJP to organise a roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore on March 18, while authorising the police to impose reasonable conditions including taking a call on the route to be followed.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh passed the orders on an urgent petition filed by J Ramesh Kumar, president of Coimbatore city unit of the BJP. He approached the court after the Coimbatore city police denied permission for the event, citing security concerns and possible law and order issues.
The judge set aside the order of denial of permission by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, RS Puram. “This Court is inclined to interfere with the impugned proceedings of the second respondent (ACP) and the same is hereby set aside,” he said in the order.
“There shall be a direction to the second respondent to grant the permission and necessary police protection by imposing reasonable conditions. Such condition shall also include the route through which the roadshow will take place and the distance to be covered,” he said.
Further, the judge imposed the condition that flex boards cannot be installed for the event. He directed the organisers to comply with the conditions to be imposed by the police. “All concerned shall ensure that the roadshow takes place in a smooth manner without giving rise to any law and order problem or cause any concerns to the safety and security of the Prime Minister of India,” he stated.
Pointing out that there would be ‘some hindrance’ to the public during meetings organised for any political leader, particularly the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, the judge, however, said that cannot be a ground to deny permission and the police have to find alternative routes for smooth movement of the public and vehicles.
“Ultimately, these leaders have been chosen by the people and hence, they should not be stopped from meeting the people who elected them,” the judge said in his order.
Advocate RC Paul Kanagaraj appeared for the petitioner while government advocate KMD Muhilan represented the police. Ramesh Kumar’s application submitted to the police on March 14, sought permission for the roadshow, covering four kilometres from Mettupalayam Road to the RS Puram Head Post Office on Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m..
However, the ACP denied permission, citing various security concerns, including threats to the Prime Minister from international and domestic religious and extremist organisations, presence of important government establishments, hospitals, educational institutions on the route and the ongoing public examinations for Class X and XII students. He had also pointed that the city was communally sensitive.
"If it is a public meeting, it is easy to screen every participant with the support of Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) and Hand Held Metal Detector (HHMD). However in the Road Show, which is planned to be held at a distance of about 4 kilometres, the police have stated that it is logistically difficult to conduct checks on every single person among the large number of people gathered on both sides of the road," police said in their letter.
Meanwhile, the flying of drones has been banned in the city till Tuesday, owing to the PM’s visit. The city police also held discussions with the Special Protection Group (SPG) here on Friday.
The Tamil Nadu BJP proposed to conduct the roadshow over a 4km distance from Eru Company junction to DB Road junction at RS Puram on Monday evening between 4 pm and 6 pm, following the PM’s public address at RS Puram.
On Thursday, Ramesh Kumar submitted a letter to the police seeking permission for the event. After an elaborate consultation with various stakeholders, the city police on Friday denied permission for the road show.
In their reply to Ramesh Kumar, the police stated that they have received intelligence inputs from state and central intelligence agencies regarding a high security threat from both domestic and foreign terror outfits.
The police said that in a public meeting, it is easy to screen every participant with the support of door frame metal detectors and hand held metal detectors. However, they said that during a roadshow, it is logistically difficult to conduct checks on every single person gathered on both sides of the road.
They said that the proposed venue is also in an area with hospitals, government offices, transport hubs, schools and major commercial establishments, causing significant disruptions to the general public and city traffic. Police also said the area planned for the venue has frequent movement of ambulances for medical emergencies, which would be affected by the roadshow.
Police also stressed that the event would affect students as it is the time of public examinations. Besides, Coimbatore is a communally sensitive city that has been under the surveillance of the NIA, said the letter.
The police further said they have not permitted any political or non-political leader or VIP to meet the public in a roadshow in the city so far.
(With inputs from R Kirubakaran from Coimbatore)
