TIRUNELVELI
Even as electioneering in Tirunelveli has reached a crescendo, the book on Rafale deal has also become a part of electioneering in the Lok Sabha constituency that has a high literacy rate.
The book Nattai Ulukkum Rafale Bera Oozhal (Rafale scam that rocks the country), brought out by Tamil publishing house Bharathi Puthakalayam, is penned by social activist S. Vijayan.
As the book received wild reception among readers, deputy secretary of DMK’s Tirunelveli district engineers’ wing Y. Joseph Chandran of James Town near Pazhavoor placed an order a few days ago for 40,000 copies to be distributed to voters of Tirunelveli Lok Sabha constituency. After the publishers expressed inability to supply the huge volume in a short notice, it was agreed to ship 2,000 copies immediately.
On getting the copies, each costing ₹ 15, he arranged distribution of the books free to participants of the election rally addressed by DMK president M.K. Stalin at Palayamkottai on Tuesday.
Even as the distribution was going on, a few persons, who introduced themselves as policemen attached to the Intelligence Wing, asked Mr. Joseph Chandran to stop the distribution.
“Since the book has been banned by the Supreme Court, it cannot be distributed here,” one of them told Mr. Joseph Chandran, who asked the policeman: “Which Supreme Court?”
When the policeman replied “Supreme Court of India,” he asked him to produce the order and continued the distribution. As the policeman asked him to stop distribution, Mr. Joseph Chandran replied that members of the flying squad who seized the copies of the book in Chennai minutes before it was released had been removed from poll duty and placed under suspension.
“Moreover, no Supreme Court order has banned the circulation or distribution of this book,” he replied and continued the distribution.
The policeman took the photograph of Mr. Joseph Chandran’s car, in which copies of the books had been kept, and left the spot with a copy of the book.