Madras HC takes note of BJP leader H Raja's remark, directs Tamil Nadu govt to ensure law and order

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure law and order across the state in view of a statue of rationalist leader EV Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, being vandalised. [caption id=“attachment_4352103” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Wikimedia Commons[/caption] The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose passed the direction while closing a PIL moved by advocate AP Suryaprakasam seeking a direction to the police to take necessary action to maintain peace in view of the row over remarks made by BJP leader H Raja. When the plea came up, Additional Advocate General Aravindth Pandian submitted that the government was already seized of the matter and has ensured adequate protection to statues of Periyar across the state. This apart, four persons involved in violence have been taken in custody, he added. The petitioner alleged that Raja’s comments instigated violence in the state resulting in attack on a Periyar statue allegedly by BJP cadres at Tirupattur yesterday. He submitted that over eight lakh students are writing their class 12 board exams and any disruption of law and order and peaceful atmosphere in the state would shatter the future ambition of the students. Recording the submission, the bench suo motu impleaded the Tamil Nadu government and passed the direction. Triggering a row, Raja had indicated that statues of the rationalist leader could be the next to be pulled down after a statue of Communist icon Lenin was razed by suspected BJP workers in Tripura. In a Facebook post in Tamil, he said, “Who is Lenin and what is the connection between Lenin and India? What connection India has with Communists? Today Lenin’s statue removed in Tripura, tomorrow it will be the statue of EV Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu.” The post was subsequently deleted. With the remarks stirring a controversy in Tamil Nadu, Raja initially took to Facebook today to issue a clarification and express regret for his comments. Later, speaking to reporters in Delhi, he claimed that his Facebook admin had put up such a post while he was travelling to the national capital for a party event. “I later removed the post and have also removed the admin,” he said and once again expressed regret.