AIADMK leaders have charged that there were concerted efforts on the part of its “political rivals” to create trouble ahead of Monday's public meeting to be addressed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa.
Addressing a press conference at the venue, front line leaders led by O. Paneerselvam, K.A. Sengottaiyan, Thambidurai, Natham R. Viswanathan, Pollachi Jayaraman among others charged that the political rivals were bent upon creating disturbance in all possible manner.
With the support of the police, they are determined to blame the AIADMK for any law and order problems. “We have reliable information that some 500 men would indulge in violence tomorrow,” they claimed.
Though it is allowed to install arches and display banners three days prior to the protest rally and dismantle them one day after the event was over, the police forced the AIADMK cadres to remove the banners under some pretext or the other till Friday.
“Our local functionaries were made to run from pillar to post by the Corporation and police authorities,” Mr. Sengottaiyan said.
To a pointed query, Mr. Sengottaiyan said that today's meeting in Madurai would be a turning point not only in Tamil Nadu, but set the tone for the beginning of a new political era led by their party leader Jayalalithaa and bring the curtains down on the present rulers.
“People are unhappy in all aspects with the DMK… Take for example, Madurai, which is described as ‘temple' city is in the hands of anti-socials. Not a single day passed off peacefully. There is some grave crime reported from all quarters. The AIADMK will give a fitting reply to its political opponents in the ensuing general elections.”
Mr. Paneerselvam said that though the police had promised adequate security, they were not satisfied with the arrangements.
Police officers said that about 2,700 policemen and officers would be deployed on bandobust duty.
Bandobust
There would be seven Superintendents of Police, five ADSPs, 23 DSPs, 45 Inspectors, 135 Sub-Inspectors of Police and 1,445 from other ranks.
There would be women police officers, traffic police, about 500 personnel from the Battalions and another 300 men from the Armed Reserve Police.
