BJP members clashed with the police while trying to garland Ambedkar’s statue at Marial in Thanjavur city on Tuesday. , Photo credits: R. Vengdesh
Gurumurthy, an office-bearer of Indu Makkal Katchi, was taken into custody at Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district on Tuesday after he allegedly put up posters of BR Ambedkar dressed in saffron and sanctified. Kumkum Spot on forehead
Posters put up in Kumbakonam town on the occasion of Ambedkar’s death anniversary were captioned: “Kavi (or) Thalaivanin Pugazhai Pootruvom”.
Some members of Dalit organizations and others demanded removal of the posters. A section of them gathered in front of the Kumbakonam Deputy Superintendent of Police’s office and demanded Gurumurthy’s arrest. Police sources said Gurumurthy was later taken into custody.
Meanwhile, Marial in Thanjavur city remained tense on Tuesday after Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) members and people belonging to other organizations protested and allegedly prevented BJP cadre from garlanding Ambedkar’s statue on the occasion of his death anniversary. The situation has arisen. A section of BJP members resorted to a road block on Nanchikottai Road for some time. The police arrested members of both the parties.
Police sources said members of Congress, VCK and other organizations garlanded Ambedkar’s statue installed at a public place in Marial. The trouble started when a group of BJP members led by their state vice-president M. Muruganantham arrived to garland the statue. Members of VCK and other organizations gathered at the spot and prevented them from garlanding the statue by gathering around it and raising slogans.
The BJP members remained at the spot and insisted that they be allowed to garland the statue. Police and revenue officials held talks with both the sides. Following this, a section of BJP members staged a road blockade on Nanchikottai Road, leading to tension. After the incident, the police arrested around 60 members of the BJP and around 20 members of the VCK. After the incident, a large number of police forces were deployed near the statue.