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Tamil Nadu’s Opposition Parties Protest Against Permitting ‘Ram Rajya Ratha Yatra’

By allowing the controversial yatra to pass through the state, AIADMK government is resorting to appease Narendra Modi’s rule.
Ram Rajya Ratha Yatra

Image Courtesy: National Herald

Amid protests from opposition parties, Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK led government allowed the controversial ‘Ram Rajya Ratha Yatra’ into the state on March 20. Nearly 1,500 police personnel have been deployed by the state government to ensure peace along the yatra’s route. The yatra entered Puliyarai in Tirunelveli and would pass through Shengottai, Ilangi, Tenkasi, Kadayanalloor, Puliyangudi, Vasudevanalloor, Sivagiri proceeding to Rameshwaram on 22 March via Rajapalayam and Madurai.

The Tirunelveli district collector has slapped Section 144 in the district till March 23, as opposition against the yatra grew in the state. So far, nearly 40 persons have been arrested who were demonstrating against the yatra.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president M K Stalin along with several other MLAs were arrested for holding a ‘road roko’ protest outside the state secretariat against the yatra.

Political observers are arguing that by permitting the yatra to pass through the state, AIADMK’s government is trying to appease the Narendra Modi’s government at the Centre, despite the traditional atheist politics in the state.

The yatra will disturb the communal harmony and peace in the state,” Stalin said. “You cannot allow religious fanaticism in the soil where Periyar and Anna were born."

Arguing that the yatra is intended to evoke communal tensions, political parties including DMK, MDMK, VCK, AMMK have urged the government to deny permission for the yatra in the state.

The yatra, which commenced on February 13 in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, was flagged by VHP general secretary Champat Rai. The Yatra is said to be led by Sree Rama Dasa Mission Universal Society, however, workers of saffron outfits such as RSS, VHP are accompanying it in their respective states. The Yatra will end in Kanyakumari on March 25.

The chariot vehicle being used for the yatra is said to be depicting replica of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya. This drew controversy since the issue of ‘Babri Masjid and Ram Temple’ is pending with the Supreme Court.

Reportedly, Shree Sakthi Santhananda, who is leading the yatra in Tamil Nadu has been resorting to hyper-nationalist speeches. “The aim of this rath yatra is to re-establish Rama Rajya (rule of Rama).This is the 22nd year of the yatra. When this yatra takes place next year, Rama Rajya would be established in India. While Delhi is the political capital of India, Ayodhya should be made the spiritual capital of the country,” Santhananda was quoted as saying.

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