After the Opposition members raised the issue of attack on prayer halls run by Christians in Madurai, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami assured the Assembly on Thursday that the government would take tough action against those disturbing communal harmony.
During a calling attention motion, DMK MLA S. Austin said there were a series of attacks on prayer halls in Madurai on March 11.
In Kanniyakumari also, communal tension was on the rise, he said. Congress MLA J.G. Prince raised the issue stating that three FIRs had been filed in connection with the Madurai attacks but only one person had been arrested so far.
In reply, the Chief Minister said that unidentified persons had entered prayer halls in three places and had threatened Christians on March 11. A group attacked and burnt a copy of the Bible in another prayer hall. Four complaints have been lodged and three persons were arrested.
Meanwhile, Hindu Munnani organiser Sathish Babu filed a counter-complaint stating that the prayer halls were trying to convert people to Christianity and were spreading false propaganda against the Central government. He demanded action against such preachers and prayer halls.
After the incidents, security had been increased in these areas and communal harmony had been restored, he said.
