TN to withdraw cases against anti-caa protesters

CHENNAI: Even as Tamil Nadu counted down to the state assembly election, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy on Friday announced that cases against those who protested against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be withdrawn.

The main group against whom cases were filed were the minorities.

Also, Palaniswamy said he’s waiving cases filed against people violating the COVID-19 lockdown.

At a campaign rally in Tenkasi, he also promised to abandon cases booked against those who staged years of protests against the Kudankulam nuclear plant.

Speaking at the campaign in Kadayanallur in Tenkasi, Palaniswamy said: “Tamil Nadu government implemented lockdown following the guidelines issued by the Central government. During this period several check posts were installed in the State and vehicle inspections were carried out.” “Cases were filed against those who did not follow the lockdown rules and also for spreading rumours. All these cases except those in which there was violence, police were stopped from doing their duty and geting fake e-passes will be cancelled. As many as 10 lakh (1 million) cases have been filed during this period.” The CM said 1,500 cases filed during the anti-caa protest during which public properties were damaged have also been cancelled. He had made a promise to a Muslim gathering in Tirupati earlier that the cases would be withdrawn.

He told Muslims not to “fear” the ADMK-BJP alliance. Wearing a skull cap, he said, “An alliance is different and ideology is different.

Alliance can change every time. Alliances are created for politics.

Every party has an ideology and they will never let it go. Nobody has to fear that they will be affected because of our alliance. We need your support for this rule to continue.” A government notification said: “People belonging to certain groups conducted protests, rallies, burnt effigies, burning of the constitution in different parts of the state. During these protests, police took the necessary steps to ensure law and order is maintained.”

“The police registered 1,500 cases against people who gave difficulties to the public, people who damaged public property and those who hindered the police from carrying out their duties.” “All cases, except those registered for specific offences involving violence and cases of obstruction of duty by the police, further investigation will be dropped in the interest of the public.” Kudankulam protest leader SP Udhayakumar welcomed Palaniswamy’s announcement that his government will consider withdrawing cases against the agitation leaders.