Yet another incident of a BJP candidate (Thanjavur) being prevented from canvassing in a Muslim pocket has evoked serious condemnations from the leaders of NDA in the State.
Sources said that a clash erupted between the BJP and SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) cadre when the saffron party’s Thanjavur Lok Sabha candidate Karuppu alias M Muruganandam went for campaigning to Mallipattinam, a coastal hamlet in Thanjavur district, on Monday.
According to police, Muruganandam and a group of party cadre tried to enter the Pallivasal Street, which has a sizeable population of Muslims in Mallipattinam. A group belonging to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) blocked the BJP candidate and his team and did not allow them to enter the street.
Though the police personnel deployed in the area along with elders of the community (Jamaath) tried to pacify the SDPI men, they refused to back off. Even as talks were on, an individual, reportedly from the SDPI group, hurled stones at the campaign team, due to which a few BJP cadre and police personnel suffered injuries.
Following this, a clash erupted between the SDPI and BJP cadre and four cars were damaged and one more was pushed into a dry tank. A police team, led by G Dharmarajan, Superintendent of Police, and Murugesan, Revenue Divisional Officer, Pattukkottai also rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile, MDMK chief Vaiko and PMK scion Anbumani Ramadoss expressed solidarity. The two leaders, along with BJP State president Pon Radhakrishnan, called for increased protection to NDA candidates.
Vaiko demanded a quick and stringent response. “I strongly condemn this attack on the Thanjavur candidate, which comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa strongly criticised the BJP. The police must take stringent action against those responsible for the violence,” he said.
Anbumani claimed that NDA candidates were being targeted. “Four NDA candidates from the PMK, including myself, have come under attacks.”
Source : The New Indian Express
According to police, Muruganandam and a group of party cadre tried to enter the Pallivasal Street, which has a sizeable population of Muslims in Mallipattinam. A group belonging to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) blocked the BJP candidate and his team and did not allow them to enter the street.
Though the police personnel deployed in the area along with elders of the community (Jamaath) tried to pacify the SDPI men, they refused to back off. Even as talks were on, an individual, reportedly from the SDPI group, hurled stones at the campaign team, due to which a few BJP cadre and police personnel suffered injuries.
Following this, a clash erupted between the SDPI and BJP cadre and four cars were damaged and one more was pushed into a dry tank. A police team, led by G Dharmarajan, Superintendent of Police, and Murugesan, Revenue Divisional Officer, Pattukkottai also rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile, MDMK chief Vaiko and PMK scion Anbumani Ramadoss expressed solidarity. The two leaders, along with BJP State president Pon Radhakrishnan, called for increased protection to NDA candidates.
Vaiko demanded a quick and stringent response. “I strongly condemn this attack on the Thanjavur candidate, which comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa strongly criticised the BJP. The police must take stringent action against those responsible for the violence,” he said.
Anbumani claimed that NDA candidates were being targeted. “Four NDA candidates from the PMK, including myself, have come under attacks.”
Source : The New Indian Express
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