Chennai: Protest erupts but PIL against Narendra Modi dismissed

, Oct 18: Despite tremendous protest against his presence at a function at Madras University,

has won the battle. Hours before the function, Madras High Court on Friday, Oct 18 rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) giving green signal to Gujarat CM to attend the ceremony.

Tamizhnadu Makkal Katchi (TMK) president -- Thanga Tamizhvelan earlier had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) opposing Modi's participation in the function which has been arranged by the Palkhivala Foundation to release a book authored by Arun Shourie.

Tamizhvelan, in his PIL, said that it was not fair to allow a political leader "known for his Hindu fundamentalism" to speak at the university.

The petitioner also added, "Permission for the event should be cancelled as it would hurt the secular ethos of the university in the light of the 2002 Gujarat carnage."

Unfair to allow someone "known for his Hindu fundamentalism" to speak at Univ

He also referred to a previous incident where permission granted to an American Islamic scholar Amina Wadud was cancelled in the university campus on the ground that her speech might hurt the sentiments of some sections.

A group of protesters in Chennai staged a dharna against Modi. The protesters supported the PIL while raising slogan outside the venue where the Gujarat CM is supposed to attend the function. Many agitators including men and women were detained on Friday. Modi is expected to reach Chennai around 2:30 pm and he will address the programme around 6:00 pm.

OneIndia News