Chennai: PMK chief Dr S. Ramadoss has questioned the cruel practice of AIADMK supporters subjecting children to painful rituals (Alagu Kuthal) to pray for the speedy recovery of AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
“It is everyone’s wish to see Ms Jayalalithaa return home soon from Apollo hospital where she is undergoing treatment. But to get a good name from the CM and those close to her, it is sad that some people are indulging in gross
violation of human rights in the name of offering prayer,” Dr Ramasoss said in a statement.
AIADMK’s North Chennai district unit had held a special prayer in a Murugan temple at Nethaji Nagar in Tondiarpet, which comes under chief minister's RK Nagar Assembly seat, on Monday for her speedy recovery.
“Thousands of people took part in the prayer carrying milk pots. Besides, hundreds of people offered prayer by piercing the cheeks (Alagu Kuthal) including over 20 children in the age group of 5 to 12 years. Children were forced to take part in the rituals despite their reluctance. Such violence is continuing to take place across the state and not only in Chennai,” he said.
Stating that it is the right of AIADMK cadres to offer prayers for the well-being of their party chief, he said that, at the same the time, the prayers should be offered by them on their own wish. "Forcing innocent children to undergo painful rituals is completely unacceptable," he said.
Denying PMK leader's charge that children were forced to take part in the Alagu Kuthal ritual in RK Nagar constituency, E. Ramachandran, an AIADMK supporter from Netaji Nagar in Tondiarpet, said that he along with his son and two grandchildren took part in Alagu Kuthal ritual on their own wish to seek divine blessings of God for speedy recovery of the Chief Minister. “We took part in the ritual on our own wish because of our love for Chief Minister,” he said.
A senior AIADMK leader said that Amma had never encouraged party cadres to perform rituals that inflict physical pain on them. “But the cadres are doing this on their own wish,” the leader said.
AIADMK cadres have always known for seeking divine intervention for the well-being of party supremo during her birthday and even when she was out of power.
