The Opposition party of Tamil Nadu DMK has carpeted the city with its huge procession to voice against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in what it can be reported as the massive reunification of the opposition parties in the state that have been batoning together to enhance the stir and the agitation across the nation and the procession comes with the clear go from the Madras High court, which, on Sunday, dismissed the litigations which were filed to seek its directive to ban the procession.

The procession, which expected to witness the gathering of about 15,000 people from across the state including the party cadres and the activists, is second in the line of the DMK party's to oppose the act as on earlier last week, the opposition party held district-wise protests and by refueling the stir, the party had proposed to hold a rally in the city on December 23rd and as scheduled, it has been rolling out the procession since Monday morning.

On Sunday, the Madras High court had issued orders for the Chennai city police to record the agitation carried out by the opposition parties and asked the police department to employ drones to capture the rally if required. The high court bench, comprised of Justices Vaidyanathan and Asha, had passed the order while hearing the two pleas filed by R Varaaki and R Krishnamoorthy. During the hearing, the government pleader notified that the DMK party had neither disclosed the exact number of people who would be participating nor ratified on who will hold the responsibility for any riots and the destruction of the public property.

However, the court dismissed the pleas and consented DMK to hold the rally in the city and party's president M K Stalin had claimed the high court as a big victory for its fight against the CAA. With having obtained the clearance from the judicial body, the DMK party has organized its rally in Egmore, Chennai where the party's top leaders and the leaders of the opposition parties have been camped and it has been reported that the police department has been monitoring the developments through hundreds of cameras, four drones, and about 50 CCTV cameras. The rally has seen the presence of MDMK chief Vaiko, Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thirumavalavan, the state secretaries of both Communist parties and the leaders of the regional state parties. 

DMK's Parliamentary and legislative members are also flagging the rally in the city that will march from Egmore to Rajarathinam stadium- about 2 kilometers. The rally has been headed by the M K Stalin and the leaders would be carrying the placards and posters against the Citizenship Amendment Act. On the other hand, actor and chief of Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan had quitted from the rally and the party had informed DMK, which invited the actor last week to take part in the procession, that Kamal Haasan would be traveling overseas for medical consultations. Haasan's absence comes at a high time when both the parties have been fiercely voicing against the amended citizenship act. The state government had deployed about 5000 police personnel along the stretch of the rally and the authorities had announced the detours and diversions for the transportations.

On Sunday, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi Palaniswami had, despite the uproar, claimed that the Citizenship Act wouldn't affect any existing citizens of the country and by appealing to the people of Tamil Nadu to remain calm and maintain peace, Palaniswami cited that the opposition parties have been spreading the rumors across the state and added that the party's MPs have demanded the Central government to grant dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils living in the state.

Also read: https://www.thenewstuff.in/opposition-parties-tamil-nadu-hold-parade-against-caa