CHENNAI: President of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit L Murugan on Tuesday said DMK leader M K Stalin is “trembling” in fear over the Vetrivel Yatra of the saffron party. Without showing off his fear, Stalin was directing the (alliance) parties in his camp to thwart the BJP’s month-long yatra. “It is ridiculous,” he said.
“Still there are four days left for the yatra to begin. We are hoping to get the state government’s permission for the yatra,” Murugan said while replying to a question of reporters.
The party was determined to go ahead with the yatra, which would be “a turning point” for BJP in the state, he said.
When asked whether the party would stick to its decision even if the government denied permission, he said, “Why are you (journalists) assuming things.”
DMK’s alliance parties - VCK, IUML, and CPM - aired their views against the saffron party’s yatra and urged the state government to ban it to maintain the law and order in the state. They charged that the BJP was trying to whip up communal riots during the yatra and listed out the incidents such as the desecration of the statues of Dravidian leaders Periyar E V Ramasamy, C N Annadurai and M G Ramachandran and saint-poet Thiruvalluvar. “The yatra is not an issue for them. Their intent is to prevent us from meeting people,” said Murugan.
On charges that the yatra would whip up communal riots, he said, “Those who are opposing the yatra are planning to instigate riots. So, the government and police should probe into it and take appropriate action against them.”
“The yatra is aimed at unmasking the elements behind the Karuppar Kootam, which denigrated the holy hymn Kandha Sashti Kavasam extolling Tamil god Murugan,” he said.
Murugan said the party would honour corona warriors and distribute N95 masks to them.
When asked whether his meeting with governor Banwarilal Purohit related to the yatra, he said, “I met him to express our greetings to him for giving his nod for the 7.5% reservation for government schools’ students in medical seats. I will also meet the CM (Edappadi K Palaniswami) in this regard and convey my wishes.”