Ugly turn to Ram row: DMK attacks BJP office

Eight persons, including BJP state general secretary Tamizhisai Sounderarajan, were injured when a 300-strong DMK mob stoned the BJP office, shortly after the Black Flag protest was flagged off by state Minister Parithi Ilamvaruthi.

The attack took place in full view of TV cameras and policemen there were seen making feeble attempts to stop the DMK men. “If this could happen to a national party, I wonder what’s going on in Tamil Nadu,” Mrs Sounderarajan told reporters.

As DMK demonstrators began to assemble in front of the BJP office, police posted in the area advised BJP partymen to remain inside their office and lock the doors. As soon as Ilamvaruthi flagged off the protest and left, DMK volunteers picked up huge stones and began hurling them at the BJP office. BJP functionaries said many of their partymen were even beaten up with flag-posts. A group forced its way in through a glass door and assaulted BJP functionaries, party leaders said.

The attack comes in the wake of a statement on Saturday by state Power Minister, Arcot N Veerasamy, who threatened black flag demonstrations outside BJP offices in Tamil Nadu against Vedanti’s statement that he would give a gold reward to anyone who cut off Karunanidhi’s head and tongue. Veerasamy said that Vedanti’s supporters and BJP activists would not be allowed to roam the streets of Tamil Nadu if the remarks were not withdrawn and an apology sent to his leader. Demanding Karunanidhi’s resignation, G Kumaravel, BJP state vice-president, told reporters that Veerasamy had “incited” violence and legal action would be brought against him. He accused Ilamvaruthi of “overseeing” the demonstration outside the BJP office. Veerasamy, on his part, issued a statement, saying his leader, Karunanidhi, had “sternly warned” against any such agitation. “It is not proper for those entrusted with the task of protecting law and order to resort to such agitations,” Veerasamy quoted Karunanidhi as saying. “But I told him it would be difficult to restrain partymen and that they should be allowed to vent their anger through peaceful demonstrations. Our leader has agreed,” he said, urging partymen to give up picketing and hold peaceful demonstrations. Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity with the DMK, activists of the Dalit Panthers of India led by its leader Thol Tirumavalavan, set fire to an effigy of Vedanti in Chennai.

Sack DMK govt: Jaya to Centre

CHENNAI: Condemning the attacks on Sangh Parivar offices and its leaders in Tamil Nadu allegedly by DMK men, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa on Sunday said that the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated and asked the Centre to dismiss the Karunanidhi government. “Karunanidhi, as a Chief Minister, was duty-bound to maintain law and order but today’s incidents have shown that he had not done so,” she said in a statement.