Modi pays tributes to 1998 blast victims post roadshow
COIMBATORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his maiden visit to Tamil Nadu after the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, was accorded a rousing reception by thousands of people who lined up on both sides of the road here under a security blanket.
As the Prime Minister waved at the vibrant crowd from an open vehicle adorned with flowers along with BJP state president K Annamalai and Union Minister of State for I&B L Murugan, chants of ‘Modi, Modi’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Jai Shriram’ and ‘Vendum Modi, Meendum Modi,’ rented the air.
A sea of supporters, many wearing saffron caps and with party flags, showered petals on the PM. People also stood on the terraces of their houses and office buildings to have a glimpse of Modi as his cavalcade passed through the stretch of around 2.5 km from Sai Baba Colony to RS Puram. Strikingly, there were also a significant number of north Indian crowds cheering the PM.
The entire stretch of the roadshow was brought under a thick security blanket, while members of the Special Protection Group accompanied the Prime Minister throughout. The roadshow was livened up by artists performing traditional music and dance performances.
The road stretch was closed to traffic and multiple diversions were effected with the event being held after the Madras High Court gave its nod after the police denied permission citing the communal sensitivity of the area and ongoing public examinations.
After the roadshow, Modi reached the Circuit House for a night’s stay. He is scheduled to leave for Palakkad on Tuesday morning and return post noon for a public meeting scheduled in Salem, where leaders of BJP’s alliance parties are also expected to be on the dais.
The PM’s roadshow culminated in RS Puram, where serial bombs exploded in the runup to the Lok Sabha polls in February 1998, around 7.20 pm where he paid floral tributes to the blast victims.