ON October 11, Tamil Nadu witnessed a massive human chain programme organised across the state by political parties such as the Secular Progressive Front, comprising CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK, and Congress, as well as other social and mass organiSations, to prevent the RSS from dividing people in the state along religious lines.

During September, the RSS in the state had planned to organise a march in over 50 locations in Tamil Nadu on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, for which it sought police permission. The CPI(M), CPI, and VCK announced a human chain programme across the state on the same day to expose the RSS's nefarious activities in the state. As a result, the state police establishment refused permission for the RSS march as well as for the human chain programme put forward by the secular forces in the state.

Following this, the RSS approached the Madras High Court, which directed the state police to accord permission to the RSS to take up their march on November 6 instead of October 2 with necessary preconditions. Similarly, when the progressive forces sought permission to hold a human chain programme, the state police advised them to conduct the same on October 11. In the intervening period, many other progressive and socially conscious groups also came forward to join the proposed human chain programme to expose the RSS and its nefarious activities in the state.

As a result, the human chain programme was held across the state on October 11 following extensive planning in the state's districts and major towns in consultation with political parties and other organisations. The event was co-organised by the CPI(M), CPI, VCK, Congress, DK, MDMK, MMK, TVK, and IUML. It was supported by 17 state-level political parties and 45 democratic movements and organisations that do not take part in elections in the state.

K Balakrishnan, state secretary of the CPI(M), R Mutharasan, state secretary of the CPI, Thol Thirumavalavan, president of the VCK, K Veeramani, president of the DK, Vaiko, leader of the MDMK, Jawahirullah, president of the MMK, T Velmurugan, president of the TVK, Congress leaders Thangkabalu, A Gopanna, and thousands of cadres of these political parties participated in the programme. The event in Chennai was attended by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, G Ramakrishnan.

Similar human chain programmes were held across the state, with local leaders of these parties and movements marching in the main thoroughfares amid slogans condemning the RSS and its parivar for their heinous role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the Gujarat riots, and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. They marched in defence of the people and national unity.

Never before has the RSS faced this kind of opposition to its programme in the state where so many organisations have joined together against it.