News Tamil Nadu

VCK Goons Attempt To Assault IMK Chief Arjun Sampath While Garlanding Ambedkar Statue

December 7, 2022
The Commune

A furore erupted after Hindu Munnani, a pro-Hindu organization, pasted Dr. BR Ambedkar’s saffron-clad wall posters throughout the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu.

The nation marked the 66th anniversary of Ambedkar’s passing on Tuesday. On the anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar’s passing, a poster purportedly put up by Indu Makkal Katchi in some areas of the state showed him wearing saffron with vibhuti (sacred ash ) and kumkum (vermilion) on his forehead.

The poster also has images of Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath and another party representative.

The poster read “Let us praise the glory of the saffron (epic) leader.” Several activisits questioned the leader’s portrayal after the poster went viral on social media, with some VCK cadres tearing the posters in several places.

Arjun Sampath, the founder of Indu Makkal Katchi, claimed that there was nothing wrong with the posters depicting Ambedkar as a Hindu. Arjun Sampath said,  “Ambedkar is a national leader and not confined to specific boundaries in a region. Whenever the Hindu organizations observe his birth or death anniversaries on April 14 or December 6, certain organizations criticize the Sanathana Dharma.”

In his tweet, he said, “Let’s tear the mask of those who indulge in caste politics in the name of Ambedkar.”

 

Later that day, VCK goons attempted to attack Arjun Sampath while he was paying respect to the Ambedkar statue in Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai. The police had to be called in to safely escort him out of the area. However, Arjun Sampath filed a petition before the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Pattinambakkam Police Department to provide security for him while paying respect to legal luminary Dr. Ambedkar at his memorial in Raja Annamalai Puram. The Madras High Court has ordered Pattinampakkam police to provide adequate security for Arjun Sampath. It should be noted that VCK goons disguised as lawyers tried to attack Arjun Sampath inside the court premises.

VCK members, led by VCK Deputy General Secretaries Vanniyarasu and VCK functionary Rajinikanth, protested against Arjun Sampath, who came to pay respects to Ambedkar’s statue in Adyar, Chennai.

Vanniyarasu and his fellow VCK goons then attempted to assault Arjun Sampath by throwing sandals at him, a video of which has gone viral on social media. Following this, the police arrested VCK goons including Vanniyarasu who were involved in a road blockade and assaulting Arjun Sampath. According to the police, 29 people, including Vanniarasu, were detained and later released at 8.30 p.m. In addition, the police have informed that they have filed a case against 20 people under five different sections.

Despite the VCK goons’ hooliganism, Arjun Sampath later garlanded the Ambedkar statue and paid his respects. In his tweet after posting the video, he said, “Jai Bheem, Jai Ambedkar, and Ban VCK.”

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