The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : AIADMK puts off fast plan at Karur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

AIADMK puts off fast plan at Karur

Staff Reporter

Party MLA Senthil Balaji alleged that the police withdrew permission

KARUR: Amid high drama, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday postponed its plans to hold a fast, protesting the lack of basic amenities, erratic water supply and poor drainage facilities in Inam Karur Municipality.

Earlier this month, the AIADMK sought permission to stage the fast near Anna Statue at Vengamedu on August 9. The police denied permission and party general secretary Jayalalithaa announced that the fast would be held on August 13. The party applied for permission, which was granted on Sunday.

Following this, the AIADMK cadres began preparations at the venue. Suddenly, the same night the police arrived at the spot and told Karur MLA Senthil Balaji and others that the police was withdrawing permission to hold the fast. But the local leaders and cadres refused to budge.

Also bracing for a possible showdown was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres, who planted party flag posts and erected a pandal not far from the fast venue.

Came Monday morning, a large number of AIADMK cadres gathered at the venue. Police reinforcements were at hand to meet any eventuality. Then the anti-climax unfolded. A local AIADMK leader took the mike to announce that the fast had been called off, taking the party cadres by surprise.

Police version

Superintendent of Police K. Shanmugavel arrived at the venue and told the media that the AIADMK had dropped the fast plan voluntarily and the police had no role in the issue. The police had granted permission, but they were not in a position to understand the reason behind the AIADMK’s decision, he said.

Later, Mr. Senthil Balaji told presspersons that the fast was called off as the police had denied permission.

The AIADMK MLA alleged that the DMK cadres, in connivance with the police, were indulging in unhealthy politics that did not augur well for the town.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail