CHENNAI: Even as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has decided to file a writ petition in the Madras High Court over the arrest of its leaders and cadre at Ramanathapuram on Sunday, the State unit of the BJP has demanded a thorough probe into the “attitude and action” of police officers involved in the incident.
Stating that the organisation did not want to link the arrests with the State government, a senior RSS leader on Monday blamed the local administration, saying that it was not the first time that such an incident was taking place. “The district administration is abetting and siding with the Islamic fundamentalist elements,” he alleged.
Tracing the sequence of events, he said the 350 delegates attending the two-day annual state convention in a school at Devipattinam, moved to the adjoining seashore for want of space to hold the evening prayer and physical exercise. “It is a remote area, frequented only by tourists and not locals. Nobody objected to our presence,” the RSS leader claimed.
The delegates were soon surrounded by police personnel led by DSP Annamalai Alwar, who ordered them to disperse. Even as the cadre was complying, the police officer started abusing them and ordered their arrest. “We contacted BJP national president and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan. The cadre was later released.”
The RSS leader said the organisation would file a writ petition in the Madras High Court in a day or two, seeking an explanation from the State police on what grounds and Act the arrests were made and why the procedures for dispersal were not followed. “We want the DSP punished,” he added.
Describing the incident as “unfortunate”, senior BJP leader L Ganesan said a thorough probe should be conducted into the action and attitude of the police officers involved in the incident.
On ties with the AIADMK, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted good relations and cooperation with the State government for effective implementation of policies and projects. “There is no political relationship with AIADMK,” the BJP leader said. “Government-to-government relation is different, party-to-party relation is different. As of now, the NDA alliance continues.”