Published Sep 14, 2026 | 3:52 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 14, 2026 | 3:52 PM
DMK founder and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai (left) with social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The clarification comes after reports on television claimed that police had denied permission for the procession. According to the police, the Dravidar Kazhagam had submitted a petition at the Erode Town Police Station seeking permission to conduct the procession at 10.30 am on September 17 and pay tribute to Periyar. Following this, the growing opposition led to permission also being granted for the DMK’s procession in Gudiyatham to mark Anna’s birth anniversary.
Following growing opposition and criticism, police have granted permission for a Dravidar Kazhagam rally in Erode on September 17, marking Periyar EV Ramasamy’s birth anniversary, and a DMK-led rally in Gudiyatham to mark CN Annadurai’s birth anniversary on 15 September.
The Erode district police have clarified that permission has been granted for the Dravidar Kazhagam’s procession in Erode on 17 September, to mark the birth anniversary of Periyar.
The clarification comes after reports on television claimed that police had denied permission for the procession. According to the police, the Dravidar Kazhagam had submitted a petition at the Erode Town Police Station seeking permission to conduct the procession at 10.30 am on September 17 and pay tribute to Periyar.
Police said the permission has been granted and the necessary proceedings order has also been issued, adding that reports of permission being denied are incorrect and contrary to the facts.
After this, permission was also granted for the DMK’s procession in Gudiyatham to mark Anna’s birth anniversary.
Early on Monday, 14 September, Udhayanidhi Stalin had strongly condemned the police for denying permission for the rallies. He questioned why the police, under the Chief Minister’s control, were allegedly allowing rallies by right-wing organisations while denying permission for programmes commemorating Periyar and Anna.
Udhayanidhi also questioned whether the police were functioning under the Chief Minister’s control or under the influence of “saffron forces”. He demanded that permission for both rallies be granted immediately, accusing the government of neglecting Periyar and Anna.
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Tiruppur police had earlier denied permission for a procession planned by the Gudiyatham City DMK on 15 September to mark the 118th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai.
The procession was proposed from the New Bus Stand to the Anna statue. Police cited expected traffic and public congestion following Vinayagar Chathurthi, the enforcement of Section 30(2) of the Police Act, and law-and-order concerns for denying permission.
#TamilNadu: #Tiruppur police deny permission for #Anna birth anniversary procession
Tiruppur police have denied permission for a procession planned by the Gudiyatham City #DMK on September 15 to mark the 118th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister #CNAnnadurai.
The… pic.twitter.com/0ya1qDd30K
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) September 14, 2026
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(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
