Karur Rally Standoff: Organizers Reject Open Ground, Police Deny Road Permission for Anti-CAA Protest

A high-stakes political rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register (NPR) planned by the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) in Karur on March 3 hit an insurmountable roadblock after local police firmly denied permission.

The core of the dispute? The organizers' unwavering insistence on holding the demonstration on a bustling public road, a request the police deemed a significant risk to public safety and traffic flow.

Senior police officials had offered a viable alternative: an open ground specifically designated for public gatherings.

This offer was made with the clear intention of accommodating the protest while simultaneously ensuring that daily life, particularly vehicular movement and pedestrian safety, remained undisturbed in the busy Karur area. However, TPDK organizers, led by their general secretary K. Ramakrishnan, flatly rejected this proposal, remaining steadfast in their demand to stage the rally on Kovai Road, a major thoroughfare.

Explaining their decision, a senior police official highlighted the potential for severe traffic disruptions and public inconvenience if a large-scale rally were to occupy Kovai Road.

The official pointed to prior incidents where similar gatherings on public roads led to chaos and significant challenges for law enforcement in managing crowds and maintaining order. The police’s primary concern was to prevent any recurrence of such issues, prioritizing the well-being of the general public and smooth functioning of the city.

Despite the police's clear rationale, TPDK General Secretary K.

Ramakrishnan presented a different narrative. He alleged that the police had initially granted permission for the rally to be held on Kovai Road, only to retract it abruptly. This claim, however, has been strongly refuted by police authorities. According to the police, permission for a road-based rally was never issued.

Instead, they consistently advocated for the use of the alternative open ground from the outset, reiterating that the denial of permission stemmed directly from the organizers' refusal to accept this reasonable compromise.

The impasse ultimately led to the cancellation of the TPDK rally on the requested date and location.

A detailed report outlining the sequence of events, the police's recommendations, and the organizers' responses is slated for submission to the Madras High Court, indicating the legal implications of the standoff. This incident underscores the delicate balance authorities must strike between upholding the right to protest and ensuring public order and safety, particularly in densely populated urban areas.