Hindu Munnani Leader Threatens Anti- CAA Protesters, Coimbatore Protest Called off Amid Increasing Tension

In a video which surfaced in the social media platforms recently, Kadeshwara Subramaniam, state president of the Hindu Munnani was seen threatening the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters, with an ultimatum to end their protest or face the consequences. He went on to claim that the police will not be able to prevent the rally of one lakh people against the anti-CAA protests on April 5. He also recounted the riots against minorities that had happened in Coimbatore in 1998, while making his claims.

This past week witnessed an escalation in tension after a Hindu Munnani office bearer was attacked by unknown persons following which petrol bombs were hurled at a mosque. Some auto drivers and vehicles owned by minorities were also attacked. Two persons, one belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party and another a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary were arrested for hurling petrol bombs.

CALL OFF PROTEST OR FACE CONSEQUENCES

The leader of the Hindu Munnani, a right wing fringe group functioning in Tamil Nadu, can be seen saying in the video, “We will give one week’s time. They should be cleared from here (anti-CAA protest site). Or on April 5, a rally of one lakh people will start from Ukkadam (protest site). Find the accused in the case (of the attack on the party’s functionary) and send the people blocking the roads to their homes. The police won't be able to block the one lakh strong rally. If not, the 1998 riots will happen in the opposite direction.”

No case has been registered against the speech aimed at inciting violence against those holding peaceful protests opposing the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Hindu Munnani and few other fringe groups are in the forefront of pro-CAA protests and anti-minority programs. While the indefinite protest in many other districts including Coimbatore began after the state unleashed brutal crackdown on the Washermanpet protesters on February 14.

DRIVERS, VEHICLES ATTACKED; BANDH HELD

The leader was addressing a gathering condemning the attack on the party functionary. Even though the identity of the assailants are still unknown, few auto drivers and vehicles of the minority community were attacked. A petrol bomb, which did not explode, was also hurled by 2 am on March 5 at a mosque. Another petrol bomb was also thrown at a Hindu Munnani office which again did not lead to any damage. The tensions started to escalate following the announcement of a bandh by the Hindu Munnani on March 6.

The bandh continued even though the government of Tamil Nadu assured the Madras High Court of ensuring normal functioning on the day. However, members of the right wing organisation forced the vendors to down their shutters while the police remained mute spectators. Following this, a case against bandh was also filed by the left parties along with Periyarist organisations. On March 10, the district secretary of Social Democratic Party of India was severely injured after being attacked by a gang.

ANTI-CAA PROTEST CALLED OFF

As tensions continued to mount, the indefinite protest in Coimbatore was called off on Wednesday. The organising committee decided to call off the protest after the tensions over the sequence of events over the last week along with the fear over the spread of COVID-19. The district shares its border with Palakkad district of Kerala, a state which has reported several cases of the COVID-19.

While many other anti-CAA protests continue to be held across the state, right wing groups are still spewing venom against the minorities, the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Left parties for supporting the protests.