Osama bin Laden's posters shown during Jallikattu protests: O Panneerselvam

CHENNAI: Breaking his silence, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday declared that “anti-social, anti-national and extremist elements” had infiltrated jallikattu protests at Marina beach.

Making a detailed statement in Assembly on police crackdown on protesters on Monday that saw a bloody end, Mr Panneerselvam said the police used “only minimum force” to disperse the agitators and vowed to bring to justice the “evil forces” that attempted to divert peaceful protests.

“The protesters demanding conduct of jallikattu by revoking the ban continued the protests even after the ordinance was promulgated and raised issues like Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar and ban on foreign trade. A few among them wanted Tamil Nadu to be split from India and announced that they would observe Republic Day as black day,” Mr Panneerselvam told the Assembly.

“I wish to submit photographic proof to say that protesters displayed pictures of slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and held banners that said, “we reject Republic Day”,” the Chief Minister said, showing the “evidence” to the Assembly.