Tension prevailed in Madurai on Wednesday after the cadres of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chased away Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cadres who tried to garland the Ambedkar statue on the 130th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.
Leaders and representatives of various political parties, including VCK leader Thirumavalavan, along with their cadres assembled near the Ambedkar statue in Madurai outpost area.
When the BJP cadres led by the party’s Madurai rural President Suseendran approached to garland the statue, VCK denied permission. VCK thugs began attacking BJP cadres who were attempting to appease the enraged VCK cadres. The police removed the BJP cadres from the spot and pacified VCK rowdies who attacked them.
Netizens questioned Thirumavalavan, who often labels Modi a fascist, ‘who is fascist now?’ pointing to this anarchic event.
DMK's alliance partners VCK beat up the BJP people who went to garland the Ambedkar statue with stones and rods, now who is the fascist .@thirumaofficial ? pic.twitter.com/8RHad5jC4b
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 (@HLKodo) April 14, 2021
In another such incident, VCK thugs attacked members of Indu Makkal Katchi(IMK) when they tried to pay respect to the Ambedkar statue. Police removed IMK cadres from the scene instead of controlling the aggressive VCK cadres.
This is how they ganged up and attacked us… But police left them and arrested us….
Is it a crime, if we want to pay respects to Ambedkar…??
Who is VCK to stop us from paying respects to Ambedkar…?? pic.twitter.com/Fj32FDTKjQ
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) (@Indumakalktchi) April 14, 2021
IMK members were also told not to use the slogans “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” IMK condemned VCK for turning Ambedkar into a caste leader. Indu Makkal Katchi explained what happened at the scene in a series of tweets.
VCK rowdies attacking IMK caders, when we went to pay our respects for Ambedkar.
Police instructions : No Bhrat matha ki jai slogans, no Vande Mathram slogans it seems…
A great leader has been reduced to caste president by these VCK goons. pic.twitter.com/a1fWRjUeX7
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) (@Indumakalktchi) April 14, 2021
All IMK caders arrested for wanting to pay respects to Ambedkar.
Police officer named Nelson abused us and took this initiative for arrest, while the VCK goons who indulged in violence were let free by Mr.Nelson …. @chennaipolice_ We condemn this action by your officer. pic.twitter.com/y82OGNVGiS
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) (@Indumakalktchi) April 14, 2021
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