CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has expelled one of its senior office-bearer arrested for allegedly damaging a statue of rationalist leader Periyar E.V. Ramasamy at Tirupattur in Vellore district near here.
"R. Muthuraman, party's Tiruppatur town and union general secretary, arrested by the police on Tuesday in connection with the damage to Periyar's state in Tiruppatur, is being permanently expelled from the party," BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan said in a brief statement on Wednesday. Her swift action came close on the heels of strong recursion from several quarters to the facebook post of party's national secretary H. Raja who had said the statues of Periyar could be the next to be pulled down after two statues of Communist icon Vladimir Lenin were razed in Tripura. He later removed the post.
Muthuraman was one of the two persons arrested by police for allegedly vandalising a bust-size statue of Ramasamy, in an inebriated condition, the other was identified as Francis.
Meanwhile, the CPI said Francis is not a party activist. Francis was not a member of the party nor was he connected to it, CPI state unit secretary R. Mutharasan said.
Police had said Muthuraman and Francis allegedly vandalised a statue of Ramasamy in an inebriated condition. Raja's provocative remarks in a Facebook post drew spontaneous protests from several political parties in the State.
Dr Tamilisai distanced herself and the state unit as well, from Raja’s controversial remark. and subsequent withdrawal, saying it was Raja's view.
"Strict action taken on person involved in damaging Periyar statue. He was removed from party primary membership. Our party never accepts such activities," Dr Tamilisai tweeted.
