The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CPI men did not desecrate idol at Nallur: Nallakannu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

CPI men did not desecrate idol at Nallur: Nallakannu

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 21. R. Nallakannu, State secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI), today denied that his party activists desecrated a Vinayaka idol at Nallur near Tirupur in Coimbatore district.

In a statement here, he said activists of the Hindu Munnani and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), "under the guise of Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations", launched a tirade against Muslims and Communists over a public address system at Nallur on Sunday.

They even called for attacks on the residences of two CPI members — Ghate Ramasamy, vice-president of the Nallur municipality, and Dhandapani, councillor, Mr. Nallakannu claimed.

The police did not take action against the Hindu Munnani and BJP activists who made inflammatory speeches, though the CPI lodged a complaint, he said.

Alleging that the idol was damaged by the Communists, the BJP and Hindu Munnani activists ransacked the CPI branch office. They backtracked only after the locals thronged the venue and asked them to show the damaged idol. The local Member of Parliament, K. Subbarayan, went to the spot and pacified the people.

Plea for release

However, the police arrested six CPI men on a complaint lodged by the Hindu Munnani, Mr. Nallakannu said. He demanded their release and immediate action against the activists of the Hindu Munnani and BJP for ``attempting to incite communal violence.''

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