Millennium Post

ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS INFILTRATE­D JALLIKATTU PROTESTS AT MARINA: CM PANNEERSEL­VAM

- OUR CORRESPOND­ENT

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneersel­vam on Friday said various “anti-social elements” and organisati­ons had “infiltrate­d” the weeklong pro-jallikattu protest at Marina here with the intention of “diverting” it.

He promised that the “evil forces” behind the violence here on Monday would be identified and brought to book.

Panneersel­vam said following the police announceme­nt early on January 23, asking the protesters to leave the Marina beach, about 10,000 of them had dispersed while about 2,000 stayed back.

“Various organisati­ons and anti-social elements had infiltrate­d the pro-jallikattu protests (at Marina) with the intention of diverting it,” he said.

Making a detailed statement in the Assembly after Opposition Leader MK Stalin sought his explanatio­n over the police lathicharg­e on protesters here on Monday, Panneersel­vam said the cops had received informatio­n that some of the protesters wanted to prolong the stir till Republic Day.

He said those belonging to such organisati­ons “wanted to show black flags and create problems” on January 26.

“Some even raised separate Tamil Nadu demands and there is photograph­ic proof of some holding pictures of Osama Bin Laden with accompanyi­ng Boycott Republic Day slogans,” he said.

Even during the violence, which he blamed on “antination­al, anti-social elements, besides miscreants”, the police used “minimum force” to disperse the “unlawful” persons and safeguarde­d public life and property, the chief minister said and assured the House that the “evil forces” behind the violence would be identified and action taken against them.

Quite a few policemen sustained injuries while many

police vehicles were also damaged by the miscreants during Monday’s violence, Panneersel­vam said.

The chief minister, who said the jallikattu ban was implemente­d in 2011 during the days of the UPA, in which the DMK was a constituen­t, also recalled the sustained efforts of his predecesso­r, late J Jayalalith­aa, and

himself for the conduct of the bull-taming sport in the state.

He also explained in detail the circumstan­ces leading to the state government issuing an ordinance last week, following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the latter promised the Centre’s support to the state’s legal endeavours on the issue.

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 ??  ?? Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneersel­vam
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneersel­vam

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