BJP, HM stage demo to condemn attack on party office

Chennai, Sep 28 (UNI) Members of the Tamil Nadu unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Hindu Munnani (HM) today staged a demonstration here, protesting against the attack on party headquarters, allegedly by DMK volunteers.

Led by BJP State President L Ganesan, former Union Minister Su Thirunavukarasar and Hindu Munnani leader Rama Gopalan, about 600 volunteers of the BJP and Munnani activists, shouted slogans against the DMK government and demanded action against those involved in the attack on party office.

After VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti had issued a ''fatwa'' to chop off DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's head and tongue for his remarks against Lord Ram, DMK members attacked the BJP headquarters here, pelting stones.

Addressing the agitators, Mr Ganesan said his party or any other Hindu organisations were not against the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping canal Project (SSCP), as projected by the ruling DMK.

''We only want the project to be implemented on alternative alignment, without demolishing Ram Sethu and hurting the sentiments of Hindus.'' Ridiculing the DMK-led DPA for organising a bandh on October one, demanding that the Union Government expedite the SSCP, Mr Ganesan said, where is the need for the bandh when the Congress-led UPA in which, the DMK is a constituent, is in power at the Centre.

Mr Ganesan and Mr Thirunavukarasar condemned the attack on party headquarters by DMK volunteers on September 16 and demanded action against ministers, who had instigated the violent act.

Later, members of party's women's wing and Legal cell presented a memorandum to the City Police Commissioner Nanchil G Manoharan, demanding criminal action against senior DMK minister Arcot N Veerasamy for inciting violence and disturbing communal harmony.

UNI