Sack TN minister: AIADMK demo

Chennai, Aug 23: The opposition AIADMK would hold a protest demonstration in Nagercoil on August 25, demanding the sacking of Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister N Suresh Rajan for allegedly abusing a special Deputy Collector and holding out a threat to murder him.

AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa, in a statement here, said the demonstration, to be held in front of Kanniyakumari district collectorate in Nagercoil, would be led by former Minister N Dalawai Sundram in the presence of district secretary K T Pachaimal.

She said after police denied permission to organise the agitation, the party had moved the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, which directed the police to accord permission for the protest demonstration.

She said special Deputy Collector S Janarthanan, belonging to scheduled caste community, had lodged a complaint with the district collector, against Mr Suresh Rajan and others for abusing him by mentioning his caste name and holding out a murder threat when he was participating in a free colour TV distribution function on April 18.

The next day, the official had lodged a complaint with the District collector, demanding action against the minister and his supporters, but no action was taken. Three months later, after he threatened to move the Human Rights Commission, police had registered cases against the minister and others under Prevention of Atrocities Act, she said.

When she had demanded that the Minsiter, owning moral responsibility, should step down or should be sacked, the Chief Minister, defended the Minister and ruled out action against him, she said. It was in this backdrop, the AIADMK is organising the agitation.

UNI