1. Madras High Court allows PM Modi’s Coimbatore roadshow on March 18.
2. Initially denied by district police, citing security concerns.
3. Permission granted with conditions imposed by the court.
Chennai, March 15: The Madras High Court on Friday intervened in the dispute over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned roadshow in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, granting permission for the event scheduled on March 18.
Initially, the district police administration had declined permission, citing security concerns among other reasons.
However, the court’s ruling directed the police to allow the roadshow, imposing certain conditions to ensure safety and orderliness.
These conditions include specifying the route of the roadshow, determining the distance to be covered, and prohibiting the erection of flex boards during the event.
The court emphasized the importance of compliance with these conditions by party workers and organizers.
PM Modi’s roadshow, a component of his South India tour ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, was proposed to span 3.6 kilometers in Coimbatore, known for its industrial and textile sectors.
Security risks and Coimbatore’s communal history were among the concerns raised by the police, especially given the city’s past experiences with communal violence, including the 1998 serial blasts in RS Puram, one of the proposed locations for the roadshow.
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Additionally, considering the presence of numerous schools along the intended route and the upcoming public exams on March 18 and 19, authorities initially expressed concerns about the potential disruption to students and the general public.
Before the court’s intervention, no political parties or groups were granted permission for roadshows, underscoring the sensitivity of the situation in Coimbatore.
