The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which intensified on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a severe attack on Israel, has resulted in a significant loss of life, with an estimated death toll of around 8,000 people on both sides. As reported by The Commune, in a display of “solidarity,” a massive demonstration was organized in Coimbatore, India, in support of Palestine. This demonstration was coordinated by Islamic organizations, Jamaats, and political parties, and it attracted thousands of participants who gathered in front of Ukkadam Valliammai Bakery to express their support for the Palestinian cause.

Notably, a substantial number of Muslim women actively participated in the protest, raising their voices and chanting slogans to emphasize their demands. Some of the slogans used during the demonstration included “Let the Zionist group fall,” “Inquilab Inquilab, Palestinian Inquilab,” and “Lal Salaam, Assalaam, Intifada Inquilab.”

During the protest, the participants strongly urged the Indian government to refrain from backing Israel and, instead, stand in solidarity with the Palestinian population. They claimed that, except for the BJP and RSS, all political parties were unified in their support for the Palestinian people.

Protesters alleged that the police allowed BJP state president Annamalai to lead a march during peak hours but refused permission for Muslims to hold a march supporting the Palestinian people. They called on the Tamil Nadu government to address this perceived inequality.
Several organizations and political parties, including Coimbatore Sunnat Jamaat Policy Federation, Jamaatul Ulama Sabha, IUML, DMUK, STPI, Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi, Manidhaneya Jananayaka Katchi, Tawheed Jamaat, and Welfare Party of India, participated in the demonstration.

The protest was overseen by Federation Coordinator A. Sadiq Ali, with Coordinator Inayatullah and notable figures such as STPI State Secretary Raja Hussain, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam State Speaker Rex Rafi, and others participating and delivering speeches at the event.

At the demonstration, one of the speakers was heard saying, If there is a terrorist state in this world, the first country is Israel and the second is the one we are living in. I won’t call it India because India has always stood on the side of peace. There have been many Prime Ministers in India, starting from Nehru up to Manmohan Singh, there have been several PMs. None of them went on an official trip to Israel. But Modi went on an official visit to Israel. During his visit, Israel PM Netanyahu said, “We had to wait 70 years for an Indian PM to visit Israel”. Modi fulfilled the 70-year longing of Israel.”

Participants criticized the Indian government for supporting the Israeli government and called for returning occupied Palestinian territories to their rightful owners.
It’s worth mentioning that Coimbatore has been a frequent location for acts of terrorism in Tamil Nadu, including the 1998 serial blasts and the 2022 explosion near Kottai Easwaran Temple.

Permission for RSS March denied in TN

While the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government permits such divisive demonstrations, they have refused permission for RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) marches scheduled for October 22 and 29, 2023, despite court approval. The court had given the green light for route marches in 11 districts, but in three districts, the police department cited a lack of available personnel for security due to concurrent events.

It is customary for RSS volunteers to participate in parades wearing their uniforms during the Vijayadashami festival, which aligns with the organization’s founding in 1925. A Adalarsan, the President of RSS Tamil Nadu (South), expressed concern about the increasing trend of the police denying permission for these marches. This situation is reminiscent of 2022, when the RSS took the matter to court.