CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday warned of “strict action” against those inciting violence and said none will be spared from the law if they are found to be on the wrong side in the wake of incidents of arson arising out of BJP leader H. Raja's comments on Periyar.
Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar also condemned Raja's comments that Periyar's statue could be the next to be removed after pulling down the bust of Lenin in Tripura saying Tamil Nadu belonged to the legendary rationalist leader and his protégé M G Ramachandran, the founder of AIADMK.
“We cannot accept Raja's speech and we (AIADMK) condemn his statement. This is Periyar's land, MGR's land and no one should try to incite violence in Tamil Nadu, which is a peace loving state. Those who affect public peace will be taken to task irrespective of their stature. Those affecting public peace will be brought to book,” Jayakumar said.
Opposition DMK said that following the outcry in TN, none would make such remarks henceforth. DMK working president M.K .Stalin recalled Ramasamy's contribution in fighting various social evils and striving towards an egalitarian society and said he was a widely respected leader.
Pointing out at the widespread protests and the public outcry against Raja's comments, Stalin said, “None even in their dreams will now think of removing statues of Periyar.” “If anyone wanted to do so, let them touch the statues and the DMK, which upholds the Dravidian ideals of Periyar, will show who they are,” he said in a letter to partymen.
President of Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM), actor Kamal Haasan, said he wondered if the ongoing controversy was aimed at diverting attention from the Cauvery issue.
He said it came at a time when there were strong demands in the state urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CMB), as per Supreme Court guidelines. Asked if the BJP should take action against Raja, Haasan said “that would be the proper, decent thing to do.”
