To
The Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir/Madam,
As a law-abiding citizen of India, I write to you with grave concern over the normalization of political or ideological processions in which individuals carry sticks (lathis) or other symbolic weapons. Specifically, I refer to groups such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who routinely conduct marches through public areas carrying lathis in a military-style formation.
In a democratic society governed by the rule of law, it is unacceptable for private citizens to publicly bear weapons—symbolic or otherwise—when the rest of the population, including families, women, and children, remain unarmed and vulnerable. These demonstrations not only create a sense of fear and intimidation but also establish a dangerous precedent of unequal public power.
I ask the Government of India to:
1. Ban the public display or carrying of sticks, lathis, or similar objects during all political, ideological, or religious processions, regardless of the group or tradition.
2. Ensure equal enforcement of public safety laws by holding all civilian groups to the same standard, without exception.
3. Declare all civilian weapon-carrying in public as a non-bailable offense unless done under a legal, licensed framework, such as for law enforcement, sport, or agriculture—and even then, not during political rallies or processions.
4. If the law permits one group to carry arms in public, then it must logically permit all—an outcome that would be chaotic and dangerous. Thus, a uniform public disarmament policy must be enforced.
This petition is not directed against any one organization or ideology, but rather upholds the principle that no citizen group should have the right to project strength through arms in public, particularly when others do not have the legal right to respond in kind.
We urge you to uphold the Constitution’s promise of equality, safety, and the rule of law.
Sincerely,
Astrologer Kennedi Gopalan
Tamil Nadu
kennedig@yahoo.com