Minister's speech evokes tension; his effigy burnt

Erode, Tamil Nadu, Nov 25 (UNI) Tension prevailed here today following Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan's call yesterday to remove the posters of S P Thamilselvan, the slain LTTE political wing leader, during a Congress workers meeting at Gobichettipalayam in the district.

Police said some party workers tried to tear off posters of the the LTTE rebel leader here this morning, resulting in heated arguments between members of ruling DMK and the Congress.

Later, a burnt effigy of the minister effigy was found hanging in a electric transformer.

Irritated Congress workers lodged a complaint with the police and staged an agitation in the city. However, normalcy was restored.

Mr Elangovan had reportedly asked the party workers to remove posters of Thamailselavan, a frontline leader of the banned LTTE, which was behind the assassination of the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

UNI