Chennai

Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A. N. S. Prasad has filed a petition in the Madras High Court to stop the Formula 4 car racing event set for August 31 and September 1 in Chennai. He requested an urgent hearing on Tuesday, but the court will hear the case on August 28. Prasad claims the race will cause major roadblocks and disrupt daily commuters and patients at nearby hospitals. He argues the event is illegal and should be halted.

In response, Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin assured that the race would not hinder traffic and that 8,000 spectators can watch it for free. The DMK government has invested about Rs 30 crore in the event, which features eight teams and a complex 19-turn track. The AIADMK opposes the event, criticizing the DMK for prioritizing entertainment over public needs. The state government counters that the event is financially beneficial, similar to the IPL.