The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Congress workers stage demonstrations against BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 25, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Congress workers stage demonstrations against BJP

Special Correspondent

TNCC lauds Sonia for upholding moral and democratic values

DEFENDING SONIA: TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy addressing party cadres at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on Friday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Congress workers demonstrated throughout the State on Friday condemning the Bharatiya Janata Party for "forcing" Congress president Sonia Gandhi to resign from the Lok Sabha and the National Advisory Council.

In some places, including the party State headquarters Sathyamurthi Bhavan here, they burnt the effigy of BJP leader L.K. Advani.

Office-bearers of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), adopted a resolution congratulating Ms. Gandhi for upholding moral and democratic values.

Though there was no need for her to quit the posts, she did so in line with the democratic traditions cherished by the Nehru family. They condemned the BJP for adopting "unethical political practices."

Bid to weaken UPA: Vasan

Union Minister of State for Programme Implementation G.K.Vasan said it was unfortunate that the Opposition was trying to play up the issue in a bid to weaken the United Progressive Alliance. He was confident that lakhs of party workers would strengthen Ms. Gandhi's hands.

Chellakumar suspended

Former State Youth Congress president A. Chellakumar was suspended from the party on Friday for "anti-party" activities.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy, in a communication to All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi, said the disciplinary action followed a directive from CWC member in-charge of the Tamil Nadu unit, M. Veerappa Moily. He would be sending a report to the high command for further action.

Mr. Krishnasswamy alleged that at the instigation of Mr. Chellakumar, a few persons had burnt Mr. Moily's effigy, saying Assembly seats identified for the party were not satisfactory.

It is said that followers of Mr. Chellakumar were disappointed when the party was not allotted Anna Nagar or T. Nagar constituencies in the city for which he had sought the ticket. He had represented these constituencies for one term each.

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