Anti-Rajapaksa protests choke city
By Express News Service - CHENNAI
22nd September 2012 10:06 AM
Protests opposing the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India threw traffic in the city out of gear for over three hours on Friday. The protests come at a time when the city was recovering from the traffic snarls caused by protests against the alleged anti-Islam movie ‘Innocence of the Muslims’, made by an American.
Sources said more than 200 members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) led by Thol Thirumavalavan attempted to enter Sterling Road where the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission (SLDHC) was located.
Their attempts were foiled as the road was closed on both sides not just with barricades but with barbed wire fences as well. Though traffic was regulated at Sterling Road, temporary diversions were made across the city and vehicles piled up on Haddows Road, Valluvarkottam High Road, Tank Bund Road, Greams Road, Nelson Manickam Road, Kodambakkam High Road, GN Chetty Road, Venkatanarayana Road, South Usman Road, North Usman Road and Sir Thiyagaraya Road. The cascading effect was felt in Aminjikarai and on Anna Salai as well.
Meanwhile, Thirumavalavan, who attempted to ‘besiege’ the SLDHC after an agitation, was arrested along with 225 VCK cadre at 10.30 am. Some of the cadre lay down on the road obstructing traffic and were removed by force. Simultaneously, a group of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam members attempted to besiege the BJP office on Vaidyaraman Street affecting traffic further in T Nagar area. The protestors were removed from the spot as the situation turned tense when enraged BJP members hurled stones at protestors who raised slogans against the BJP for entertaining Rajapaksa.
Motorcyclist Thrashed
A motorcyclist on Sterling Road was roughed up by protesting members of the VCK after he reportedly spoke about the travails of motorists due to an agitation by the political party, to a television channel. As he was attacked, he lost footing and fell on the ground with his motorcycle bringing down a few other motorcyclists as well.
Police intervened and advised him not to invite the wrath of the protestors. The VCK members were attempting to lay a siege on the Lankan Consulate on Sterling Road.
Police identified the victim as Kumar from Villivakkam. He was among the motorists stranded for nearly three hours due to the protest by the VCK cadre. He was even branded as a supporter of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the protestors.
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Comments(7)
If rehabilitation of the war victims deserves the top most priority, can it be done without the support of the Srilankan govt? Was Bush punished for killing lakhs of people in Iraq? With Chinese backing the Srilankan govt, Can UN punish Rajapakse? Will not straining India's relations with Srilanka push Srilanka into the Chinese domination? Will that solve or worsen Tamils' problems? Why there was no debate on the opposition to academic, cultural & spiritual visitors from Srilanka? Including BJP no political party had debated the above questions in public.Absence of responsible debates on such issues will only fuel emotions resulting in such agitations. The dangerous trend of emotion dominating over reason without opposition will ruin TN in the long run. All of us are responsible for such damages to the public order.
Posted by Gandhi at 09/22/2012 11:02 Reply to this Report abuse
The on-going protet against the India visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by some Tamil groups is nothing but an eyewash. If these so-called Tamil leaders such as Vaiko are so serious of protecting overseas Tamils, why they are keeping silent on the torture of Tamils in Malaysia? In Malaysia Tamils are systematically tortured and killed by the Muslim-dominated governement. Why not protest by the like of Vaiko? Fearing a Muslim lash back in India?
Posted by laxmi at 09/22/2012 11:29 Reply to this Report abuse
In reply to laxmi: Firstly I would like to stress that you have got your information regarding Tamils in Malaysia.Where did you get the information that Tamils in Malaysia are systematically tortured and killed by the Malaysian government?My country is an Islamic country but all other religions are free to be practised and no such thing as Tamils being killed by the government.If at all you wish help Tamils, just help those across Palk Straits.If you have the opportunity,please come and visit my country which will mesmerize you.thanks
Posted by rajaselva at 12/08/2012 23:59 Reply to this Report abuse
Let us cut out the bull. If Tamil Nadu wants to protest let them do what they want. We in Sri Lanka are trying to live our lives. We do not want Tamil Nadu to interfere with our progress
Posted by Sivanathan at 09/22/2012 13:41 Reply to this Report abuse
Sri Lanka may have to clean tamilnadu the way they clean eelam, we are getting ready with Chinese
Posted by true sri lankan at 09/22/2012 19:26 Reply to this Report abuse
After the internal war with LTTE Govt of india arranged a deputation to go to Colombo,meet President Rajabaksha and some areas where rehabilitation was going on.VCK chief was in the deputation but now he cries for blacklisting Rajabhaksha.But Vaiko is always steadfast in his protests.
Posted by b sriram at 09/22/2012 22:28 Reply to this Report abuse