AICC resort to dharna against burning of MP's effigy

Puducherry, Jan 26: The supporters of AICC General Secretary V Narayanasamy, MP, led by Youth Congress(YC) president Pandiyan today staged a dharna before the office of the DGP demanding action against those who burnt the effigy of Mr Narayanasamy here last night.

The supporters of Chief Minister N Rangasamy had burnt the effegy of Narayanasamy here last night for the statement he made to the press against Mr Rangasamy.

As many as 100 supporters of Mr Narayansamy came to the DGP office and were stopped by the police. Senior Superintendent of Police Chayya Sharma asked them to submit a memorandum to her, instead of seeking to meet the DGP.

The supporters of Mr Narayansamy, however, refused to submit a memorandum to her, alleging that no action had been taken on a memorandum submitted to her earlier, when posters against Mr Narayansamy was pasted in the town.

This led to an altercation between the party workers and police, which resulted in the partymen resorting to dharna in front of the DGP's office. Later Ms Sharma allowed five representatives of the workers to submit a memorandum to DGP.

Meanwhile, legislators Ezhumali, Thyagarajan and NIT Narayansamy called on Mr Khan and submitted a separate memorandum, seeking to initiate action against the people, who burnt the effigy of Mr Narayansamy.

The five cabinet collegues of Mr Rangasamy called on the Lt Governor Mukut Mithi and were closetted with him for some time. Even though the ministers claimed they greeted him on the occasion of Republic Day, Welfare Minister M Kandasamy told newspersons that he had lodged a complaint with Mr Mithi for burning the effegy of Mr Narayanasamy.

Mr Kandasamy said the Dalit organisations urged him to organise an agitation against the burning of effigy. The incident would be brought to the notice of AICC President Sonia Gandhi, he added.

Meanwhile, a supporter of Mr Rangasamy attempted self-immolation at Ariyanakuppam. The supporters of Mr Rangasamy held a demonstration at Ariyankuppam, demanding Mr Rangasamy should continue as Chief Minister and his portfolios should not be taken away.

Suddenly Anbu of Poornamkuppam brought a can of Kerosene and attempted to set himself on fire. Police seized the can and arrested him. However, others prevented the police from taking him away. In the meantime, he jumped out of the jeep and ran away. Efforts were on to trace him.

Meanwhile, Mr Rangasamy maintained that the Puducherry government is functioning properly and there was no problem with him and the ministers. However, he parried a series of questions posed to him during an informal chat pertaining to the revolt against him by the five ministers.

UNI