Chennai: The controversial ‘thaali removal’ function, organised by the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), was held early Tuesday morning before the Madras high court ordered a stay on organising the event.

Anticipating an interim injunction after the state moved an appeal before the division bench of the HC late Monday night, DK party organisers advanced the programme by over three hours to 6.30 am.

By the time news broke about a division bench of the HC staying the single bench order allowing the conduct of the event, around 20 women had removed their thaalis in a packed auditorium on Periyar Thidal campus, outsmarting the state government.

“The function was held in accordance with the permission granted (by a single judge of the high court on Monday). Twenty one women took part in it,” DK president K. Veeramani said.

“Fundamentalist groups are trying to curb freedom of expression in the garb of religion. This event is a struggle to preserve that freedom,” he told Deccan Chronicle. A woman participant said she felt “relieved” as she saw it as only as a “symbol of insult.” Cautious not to invite contempt, the organisers, however, called off the subsequent conference and grand beef feast they had arranged on Dr Ambedkar’s 125th birthday in protest against Maharashtra government’s beef ban.