Coimbatore Car Blast: Litigant Approaches Madras HC Challenging BJP Bandh On October 31

A litigant has approached the Madras High Court against the alleged call for Bandh in the Coimbatore District by the Bharatiya Janata Party following the Car Cylinder Blast that happened on 23rd October. 

Senior Advocate Mr. V Prakash appearing for the petitioner Mr Venkatesh, a resident of Coimbatore submitted before a bench of Justice Paresh Upadhyay and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy that following the Blast, BJP called for a bandh on the pretext that the State government has failed to take stern action against the terror attacks and the offenders. 

However, he informed the court that the investigation had been transferred to the NIA and six people had been arrested in connection with the incident. The state government has taken all preventive measures to protect public tranquility and law and order. Further, the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued directions to the NIA to expedite the investigation. 

It was in such circumstances, that the BJP had called for a bandh which would affect the fundamental rights of the citizens, he claimed. It would pose a risk to life, liberty and property of any citizen and cause destruction to life and property. The state had also failed to take necessary action against the bandh.

Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, appearing for the state submitted that no direction were required for the state to discharge its obligation of maintaining law and order in the state.

Advocate Paul Kanagaraj, appearing for the BJP submitted that the party had not called for a bandh as projected by the petitioner. He submitted that the party was yet to decide on conducting the demonstration/protest. 

In view of this submission, the court adjourned the matter to 1st November without passing any interim orders.