The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Effigies of VHP leader burnt

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Effigies of VHP leader burnt

Staff Reporter

DMK workers condemn the offensive remarks

— PHOTO: R.M. RAJARATHINAM

CONDEMNATION: DMK cadres burning the effigy of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti in Tiruchi on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Condemning the offensive remarks made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ram Vilas Vedanti against Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members burnt effigies and staged demonstrations in several parts of the State, including Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchi, on Sunday.

State Information Minister Parithi Illamvazhuthi, Mayor M. Subramanian and senior functionaries led the agitation in Chennai. The DMK members burnt effigies of the VHP leader in several places.

The VHP leader on Saturday said that “whosoever chopped off the head and tongue of the DMK president would be gifted in gold.”

At R.K. Nagar, police resorted to mild lathicharge when the DMK cadre and VHP volunteers hurled stones at each other while burning an effigy of Mr. Vedanti. Tension prevailed for sometime, but the agitators were chased away, police said. Similar incidents of effigy burning were reported in a few other places in the city.

In Tiruchi city, the DMK cadre led by Deputy Mayor M. Anbazhagan burnt the effigy of the VHP leader at Central Bus stand. Similar protests were held in the district.

Police arrested 20 workers of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, including its district organiser Prabhakaran, for burning the effigy of the VHP leader.

Uneasy calm

Uneasy calm prevailed in various parts of Kanyakumari district after activists of the DMK burnt effigies of Mr. Vedanti. According to sources, they tore the flag of BJP in front of the party office at Nagercoil. In Madurai, a group of people tried to attack the house of former BJP district president K. Murali late on Saturday. According to Mr. Murali, there was a power shutdown in the West Masi Street when the suspects came armed with clubs and stones. However, on information a police patrol vehicle reached the locality within minutes and chased the suspects away. Based on a complaint lodged by Mr. Murali, the South Gate police have registered a case.

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