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Clashes in Tripura latest updates: Union minister Giriraj Singh denied that his party had a hand in the Tripura violence and the demolition of Lenin statue, but said that common people who may have felt oppressed by the Left may have done it. Ram Madhav also put out a tweet, apparently celebrating the ‘change’ but later deleted the tweet after facing backlash. According to reports, Section 144 has been imposed on 13 police stations in West Tripura district. According to 101reporters, Section 144 is imposed between 8 pm and 6 am on 5 and 6 March. Amid reports of sporadic violence in Tripura, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to the state governor and the DGP and asked them to ensure peace till a new government is installed, an official said. During the telephonic calls, Governor Tathagata Roy and DGP A K Shukla apprised the Union home minister about the prevailing situation in Tripura and steps taken to control the violence, which erupted following the BJP-IPFT alliances victory over the CPI-M, ousting the Manik Sarkar led government in the just concluded Assembly elections. Singh asked the governor and the DGP to check all kinds of violence and ensure peace till a new government is installed in Tripura, the home ministry official said. There have been reports of sporadic violence and clashes between rival political groups in different parts of Tripura after the election results were declared on Saturday. A statue of Left icon Lenin was also demolished at Belonia town in South Tripura yesterday with the help of a bulldozer. Tripura witnessed a change in rule after 25 years in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The BJP demolished the Left citadel in Tripura, winning a two-third majority with its ally, the IPFT.
Tripura violence updates: Another Lenin statue razed in Sabroom Motor Stand; Guv says no breach of peace in state
Amid reports of sporadic violence in Tripura, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to the state governor and the DGP and asked them to ensure peace till a new government is installed, an official said.
 "Tripura violence updates: Another Lenin statue razed in Sabroom Motor Stand; Guv says no breach of peace in state")
Vaiko questions BJP leadership for letting off H Raja
“Why hasn’t H Raja, who is the reason behind the demolition of Periyar statue, been arrested yet,” MDMK chief Vaiko questioned.
Speaking to journalists at Chennai airport, he said, “It is the truth that H Raja made a statement saying Periyar statues will be removed in TN. When Lenin’s statue was removed yesterday in Tripura was Rajnath Singh in coma? Was Modi unconscious? Neither Modi’s military might nor the police force of the Tamil Nady government that supports him, will be able to go near a Periyar statue without getting their hands chopped off first,” he warned.
“H Raja had said earlier that he will hit Periyar with his slippers. If he is a real man, he will accept that he said this. It was wrong to let him live in this country after he made that statement,” Vaiko added.
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
Jignesh Mevani’s statement on statue vandalism
“Vandalizing Periyar’s statue is an insult to Tamil culture and challenge to the idea of India.The celebratory approvals from BJP leaders and constitutional authorities to the toppling of Lenin statues in Tripura and the defacement of Periyar’s statue in Tamil Nadu capture two stunning realities of the Modi era: A complete contempt for Constitutional values and the mainstreaming of violence against all ideologies and ideas that do not subscribe to the narrow sectarian views of Hindutva,” Mevani said.
“I call upon the Tamil Nadu government to deal with his open call to violence peacefully but with uncompromising deployment of the laws of the land. A mere regret or belated statements from BJP leaders do not wash away their uncivil, and unconstitutional, support to the public challenge by their cadres to law and order both in Tripura and Tamil Nadu,” he added.
Jignesh Mevani takes to twitter on statue politics, says BJP men must demolish Manu statues not Lenin’s or Priyar’s
Modi ji tell your boys to destroy the statue of manu, not lenin or Periyar. Mind well, exploited dalits will always cherish the legacy of aambedkar, lenin, periyar, Phule and some day they will definitely destroy the manu-murti at Rajasthan high court.
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) March 7, 2018
pic.twitter.com/7r3F8KzlYn
Police say men who vandalised Periyar statue were not drunk
According to The Times of India, the men arrested for allegedly defiling a Periyar statue were not drunk and they had damaged it deliberately with a hammer, the police has said.
Demands to arrest vandals under NSA act rise
Several AIADMK MLAs including Thamimun Ansari, Karunas and U Thaniyarasu have issued a joint statement demanding H Raja’s arrest under the National Security Act. Earlier, Bhim Army in Uttar Pradesh also raised a similar request urging authorities to arrest all those responsible for defacing the statues under teh NSA act.
Input by Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
BJP higher ups send stern message to party workers
Pon Radhakrishnan, MoS Finance and Shipping, while addressing a press conference said, “Following vandalism of statues in Tripura and Tamil Nadu, PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have issued clear and strict guidelines that while the party is ready to fight any political differences, it will only be done in a democratic fashion, not by acting against the principles of democracy which have been upheld by the party since the beginning. BJP workers in Tripura and Tamil Nadu will follow these guidelines as laid out by party higher-ups. Amit Shah-led ideological guidelines have helped the BJP establish majority governments in more than 20 states and BJP workers must remember this proudly.”
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
H Raja’s effigy burnt by protestors in Chennai’s RK Nagar
H Raja’s effigy was burnt by protestors in Chennai’s RK Nagar.
Mydeen Abdul Kadar/101Reporters
BJP expels Periyar statue attacker but no word on action against H Raja
The BJP worker who defiled the Periyar statue in an inebriated state has been expelled by the party. However, it is mum on its national secretary H Raja, whose Facebook post added fuel to the whole controversy.
Raja has apologised for the post, blaming it on his social media manager. However, Dravidin parties, including Kamal Haasan’s newly formed Makkal Needhi Maiam have refused to accept the apology.
Protests in Chennai, effigies of H Raja burnt
Massive protests broke out in Chennai’s Anna Salai area as workers of various political parties protested against the BJP leader’s comments.
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
Security increased in Delhi after Lenin, Periyar statues vandalised
After an MHA advisory was sent out to all states advising preventive action against incidents of vandalism, SHOs have been briefed to increase security in their areas in the National Capital. Police is making a list of sensitive and highly sensitive areas, and adequate number of personnel have been deployed around statues, a NDTV report said.
H Raja’s remarks on EV Ramasamy statue have further damaged BJP’s reputation in Tamil Nadu
Raja was playing with fire and he realised it when the sharp reactions scorched him. DMK leader MK Stalin asked for Raja to be booked under the Goondas Act, Vaiko and Khushbu dared him to touch one Periyar statue. But Raja was not the only offender. SG Suryah, the vice-president of the BJP Youth Wing also tweeted: “BJP successfully completed the fall of Lenin in Tripura! Can’t wait for the fall of EV Ramasamy statues in Tamil Nadu.''
By late evening, Raja and Suryah’s provocative comments translated into reality when a couple of drunk men, one of them a BJP activist, vandalised a bust of Periyar in Vellore.
But was it indeed a case of overreach by the duo or is there more than what meets the eye? At a Tamil Nadu BJP level, this seems to be a case of intra-BJP rivalry between Raja and those who preside over the state unit — an attempt to score brownie points. But at a macro level, this could well be an effort to test the waters — to see if Periyarism is relevant and has currency in 2018.
The two parties that swear by Periyar’s ideology are the DMK and AIADMK, apart from a host of smaller Dravidian outfits. But the late Jayalalithaa visited temples, participated in religious prayers and offerings, even though this was completely against what Periyar propagated. But even while practising her religious beliefs, Jayalalithaa never spoke against Periyar.
_Read the full article here_Madras HC directs state govt to ensure peace in Tamil Nadu
The Madras high court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure maintenance of law and order and peace across the state in view of the Periyar statue controversy caused by BJP leader H Raja’s message on social media.
Statue politics rings in Rajya Sabha; DMK, AIADMK raise issue
The issue of demolition of statues echoed in the Rajya Sabha today as DMK and AIADMK sought to move motion of adjournment. Chairman Vemkaiah Naidu and Union minister Ananth Kumar also condemned the incidents.
Bhim Army demands action under NSA Act against miscreants who defiled Ambedkar, Lenin, Periyar statues
Bhim Army of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, demanded that National Security Act be enacted against those involved in vandalising statues of Lenin, Periyar and Ambedkar
Saurabh Sharma | Team 101 Reporters
With head severed, ‘Lenin’ to be kept at civic body premises
An imposing statue of communist icon Vladimir Lenin, which was pulled down by a group of people in South Tripura’s Belonia, will be kept at the premises of the municipal body here, a top official today said.
“We initially let the damaged statue lay there as it was since we were not sure about the mood of the people. We wanted to things to subside a bit. But, now, as per instructions from higher authorities, we have decided to take the statue and store it in our office premises,” Belonia Municipal Council’s CEO, Amit Ghosh told PTI.
Mayawati condemns post-electoral violence in Tripura
“At least now, when they have come to power, BJP and RSS should give up political violence as an instrument to achieve their goals. We demand constitutional guarantee for the safety of people from BJP governments in states and Centre,” BSP supremo Mayawati said.
“Trinamool government in West Bengal acted swiftly to arrest six people in the case of desecration of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s bust. But, the BJP leaders are only engaging in unnecessary mudslinging while their workers engage in mob violence across states,” she added.
Saurabh Sahrama | Team 101 Reporters
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu calls attacks ‘mad, shameful’
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday described as “shameful” and “mad” incidents of attacks on statues of iconic leaders in Tripura, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu’s BJP unit sacks worker for vandalising Periyar statue
The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit sacked a party functionary for allegedly vandalising a Periyar statue. “R. Muthuraman is being expelled from the party,” BJP state chief Tamilisai Soundarrajan said in a brief statement.
Muthuraman was one of the two persons arrested by police for allegedly vandalising a bust-size statue of Ramasamy, in an inebriated condition, the other was identified as Francis.
‘My admin did it’: H Raja’s defence on derogatory Facebook post on Periyar
“Views can be debated only by countering it and not through violence. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Therefore, if anyone has been hurt due to the post, I really regret the action,” wrote Raja. He claimed he was travelling at the time and did not know about the post. He said he has deleted the post and removed the person responsible for it.
Two people arrested for hurling petrol bomb at BJP’s Coimbatore office
According to Times Now, _J_eeva Nanthan and Gautam, both workers of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TDPK), have been arrested in connection with the attack on BJP office.
After Periyar Statue defaced, tit-for-tat attacks in Tamil Nadu
Perhaps in retaliation to the derogatory comments made against Periyar and the subsequent vandalism at his statue, members Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam claimed they forcibly cut poonals (Janeyu or sacred thread) of 8 Brahmins. They have surrendered at a police station in Chennai’s Mylapore, The Times of India reported.
Earlier in the day, a petrol bomb was hurled at the BJP office in Coimbatore.
7 people arrested for defiling Syama Prasad Mookerjee in Kolkata
6 male and one female ( age 22-29) who tried to deface the bust of dr shyama prasad mukherjee have been arrested from the spot by Kolkata Police and strong legal action initiated. No vandalism would be tolerated.
— CP Kolkata (@CPKolkata) March 7, 2018
Tamil Nadu BJP meets after petrol bomb hurled at party’s Coimbatore office
TN BJP advisory committee met under party leader CB Radhakrishnan on discuss the incident early morning today when a petrol bomb was hurled at the BJP office in Coimbatore.
Speaking to reporters after this meeting, he said, “Any violence by anyone is condemnable. BJP would never support these actions. Action must be taken against those who are involved in violent actions. Last week, when Pon Radhakrishnan said that extremism isn’t dead in Tamil Nadu, he was condemned by the deputy chief minister. But then this petrol bomb incident has happened today. Vote bank politics prevents Tamil Nadu government from taking any action against the culprits.”
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association condemns H Raja’s comments against Periyar
Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association President N Narayana condemned H Raja’s remarks against Periyar statues in the strongest possible terms. “In the future he should refrain from making such careless statements”, he insisted.
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
Visuals: Ambedkar statue damaged in UP’s Meerut
Zilla Panchayat officials in Meerut’s Mawana said that an Ambedkar statue was vandalised in the city on Monday. However, the officials have assured that action will be taken and the statue will be replaced with a new one.
Input by Rishab Bhardwaj/101Reporters
Kamal Haasan says Periyar statues don’t need protection, those insulting Tamil icons do
Speaking to reporters in Alwarpet, Chennai, Makkal Needhi Maiam president and founder Kamal Hassan, said, “These recorded views on Periyar are very low and punishable by law, according to legal experts. Periyar statues don’t require protection, the Tamils will protect them. Those who speak scandalously about Periyar should be the ones given security because they’ll need it. We can’t accept these expressions of regret.”
Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
No end to statue war: Now, Ambedkar’s statue damaged in Meerut
BR Ambedkar’s statue in Meerut was added to the list of statues of prominent political thinkers which have been damaged across the country in the last 48 hours. However, according to News18, city administration acted fast and avoided any further deterioration in the law and order situation by replacing the damaged statue with a new one.
It is still unclear as to who were behind damaging Ambedkar’s statue.
#BREAKING No end to #StatueWar, Ambedkar statue vandalised in Meerut. @pranshumisraa with more details on the story. pic.twitter.com/D5LtAw19Bf
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 7, 2018
Those who dream to destroy Dravidian thoughts will not succeed, says MK Stalin
DMK’s MK Stalin took to Twitter and said that those who imagine to destroy Dravidian thoughts will not succeed. “Even in dreams, or imagination, these statues should not be destroyed again,” Stalin said.
தன்மான தமிழினத்தின் தனிப்பெருந்தலைவர் தந்தைப் பெரியாரின் சிலைகளை அகற்றுவோம் என்று வக்கிரமாக கொக்கரித்தவர்கள் தமிழ்ச் சமுதாயத்திடம் எதிர்ப்பை சம்பாதித்து வாய்ப்பொத்தி மூலையில் முடங்கி இருக்கிறார்கள். இன்னும் எவரேனும் இதே எண்ணத்தோடு இருந்தால், நாம் யார் என்பதை காட்டும் காலம் வரும்!
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 7, 2018
திராவிடத்தையும், திராவிட உணர்வுகளையும் அழிக்க நினைப்பவர்களுக்கு இன்றளவும் சிம்மசொப்பனமாக பெரியார் இருக்கின்றார் என்பதை இந்த மண் மீண்டும் மறக்க முடியாத வரலாற்றுப் பாடமாக உணர்த்திக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. கற்பனையிலும், கனவிலும் கூட இனி பெரியார் சிலைகளை அகற்றுவோம் என்ற எண்ணம் வரக்கூடாது.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 7, 2018
Security beefed up at 27 locations in Chennai with Periyar statue
Surveillance has been heightened at 27 major locations in Chennai which have Periyar statues and police has been deployed to protect these statues.
Input by Abdul Kader Mydeen/101Reporters
Actor Prakash Raj reacts to statue vandalisation
“…What are you teaching our children… please stop this statue politics,” Raj tweeted on Wednesday.
#leninstatue #periyarstatue #spmukherjeestatue vandalised...Whats your agenda..what are you teaching our children 🙏🙏please stop this statue politics.. violence breeds violence ..What was your election manifesto ..development or settling scores and goondaism .??....#justasking
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) March 7, 2018
Periyar’s land won’t allow poisonous politics: AIADMK minister D Jayakumar
Minister for Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Reforms D Jayakumar addressed a press meet in Chennai and said that H Raja’s opinion on Periyar issue is not acceptable and must be condemned. “This is Periyar’s land. On this soil, AIADMK will never allow jealousy-driven poisonous rumours and malicious actions to spread. Tamil Nadu is a state of peace. Actions like these will be destroyed from their roots. The government has taken action to protect the statues.”
Input by Abdul Kader Mydeen/101Reporters
To vandalise Periyar, Anna statues under AIADMK’s rule is brazen: Former Chennai Mayor
“H Raja is continuing to speak about Periyar and Karunanidhi in a defamatory manner. Raja, who is involved in these anti-national activities should arrested under the Goonda Act. To vandalise Anna and Periyar statues during AIADMK’s rule is brazen. This shows that the state government is under the control of BJP,” says M Subramanium, former mayor of Chennai and member of DMK.
Input by Abdul Kader Mydeen/101Reporters
We, Tamilians, will protect Periyar statue: Kamal Haasan
“There is no need to deploy police for protection of Periyar Statue. We, Tamilians, will protect it. I feel that this issue is just to divert attention from the Cauvery issue,” says Haasan.
The actor was referring to the formation of Cauvery management board.
There is no need to deploy police for protection of #PeriyarStatue. We Tamilians will protect it.I feel that this issue is just to divert attention from Cauvery issue (formation of Cauvery management board): Kamal Hassan pic.twitter.com/88aZ7gHqcL
— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2018
If the government is serious it should take criminal action against all involved in violence: Kamal Haasan
Speaking on the issue of statue vandalisation across the country, newly-turned politician, Kamal Haasan slammed BJP leader H Raja for his comments on Periyar. “If the government is serious, it should take criminal action against all involved,” says Haasan.
#BREAKING | If the govt is serious, it should take criminal action against all involved in violence: @ikamalhaasan | #NetaKamal #StatueWar pic.twitter.com/qkjvJwEnmB
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 7, 2018
Periyar is not a mere mortal, name or place, Periyar is philiosophy: Sathyaraj
Actor Sathyaraj condemned the attack on revolutionary Lenin statue in Tripura. He asked the Tamil Nadu government to take action against BJP member H Raja who had said that Periyar statues will be demolished in the state.
“Periyar is not a mere mortal, name or place. Periya is a philosophy. He is an ideology created for the freedom of working classes, for women’s freedom, to abolish superstitious beliefs. He does not merely live as a statue, he live in our hearts. You cannot remove him from our hearts no matter what power you possess. If you tell us the time date and time, Periyar supporters will be ready take up the challenge. H Raja should apologies and government should initiate action against him,” Sathyaraj said.
Input by Abdul Kader Mydeen/101Reporters
We should accept H Raja’s apology and drop the protests: TN BJP general secretary
Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan spoke to Firstpost and said, “H Raja has explained himself on the issue. This explanation should be accepted and protests should be dropped. This matter should not be politicised any further.”
Input by: Abdul Kader Mydeen/101Reporters
BJP’s R Muthuraman, arrested for damaging Periyar statue, expelled from party
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilsai Soundarajan issued a statement on Wedneday saying R Muthuraman, a party functionary who was arrested for damaging a Periyar statue in Tiruppattur in Vellore district on Tuesday, has been expelled from the party.
Input from: Mydeen Abdul Kathar/101Reporters
Arrest H Raja under Goondas Act, says MK Stalin
After H Raja’s controversial Facebook post calling for vandalising of Periyar’s statue, DMK working president M K Stalin demanded the arrest of Raja under Goondas Act. “Nobody has the right to touch Periyar’s statue. He has been doing this for long time to incite violence. He should be arrested under Goondas Act and put behind bars,” Stalin was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.
H Raja expresses regret over Facebook post
Hours after a BJP office in Tamil Nadu was attacked, party National Secretary H. Raja on Wednesday expressed regret for his Facebook post that said statues of rationalist movement founder E.V.Ramasamy or Periyar would be razed to the ground in the state. Early on Wednesday a petrol bomb was hurled at a BJP office around 500 km from here in Coimbatore by unidentified persons.
Later in a fresh Facebook post on Wednesday, Raja expressed his heartfelt regret for his Tuesday’s post, which he claimed was a message posted by his social media administrator without his permission and hence he had removed it. Raja expressed regret if his post had hurt anybody’s feelings. According to him, damaging the statues of Ramasamy is not agreeable.
IANS
WATCH: CPM to continue protest till action is taken against BJP leader H Raja
#StatuePolitics -- Till action is taken against H Raja for attacking #Periyar, we will continue the protests: CPM Protestors to CNN-News18's @nimumurali #StatueWar pic.twitter.com/YRYNIijWC3
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 7, 2018
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