CHANNAI, India— Miscreants allegedly demolished statues of former Prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, at three locations in Chennai on Thursday, March, 27, 2014. The vandalism occurred as seven members of a Tamil nationalist outfit were arrested in connection with clashes at the state Congress office during a protest against the Center’s opposition to release of convicts in the case related to the assassination of the former prime minister.
Tensions prevailed in Vepery, Oteri, and Perambur, the localities where the statues of Rajiv Gandhi were found to be damaged on Thursday, a day after members of the Tamil outfit clashed with Congressmen.
While local party workers held protests, peeved Tamil Nadu Congress president B S Gnanadesikan said, “Anti-social organizations” which indulge in violence should be banned, adding that his party would press the state government for such an order.
Several sections of the India Penal code (IPC) including attempted murder, and rioting, were charged against the seven who had tried to storm the Congress office in condemnation of the Center’s stand in opposing the state government’s decision to release the seven convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Several people were also injured when hit with stones pelted by unidentified persons during the protest.
Like Kashamiris, Sikhs, and other people of north-eastern Indian states, the Tamil people have also been struggling for autonomous, and independent, territories.
Tamil-Sikhs should unite to fight India imperialism. Sat Sri Akal!