Peaceful protests continued for the second day on Wednesday in Perungudi and Chinna Udaippu where statues of B.R.Ambedkar and Dalit icon Immanuel Sekaran were damaged. Members of various Dalit outfits under the banner, Committee to Protect Leaders of Oppressed Classes sat near the defaced statues to mark their protests.
The protestors have moved to the corners of road in order to resume traffic on the Madurai-Aruppukotai Highway.
Earlier in the day at Perungudi there was a ruckus between police and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi cadres when police led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan tried to remove the protestors from the spot in Perungudi.
Crowd pacified
However, the Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan came to the spot and pacified the crowd.
Replacement
Madurai South M.L.A, R. Annadurai and Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front district secretary, M. Thangaraj met the protestors and supported their demands for replacement of statues with bronze replicas.
Barring a stone pelting incident on the Ring Road and Avaniapuram where a TNSTC bus driver was injured, there was no untoward incident reported in Madurai on Wednesday, said Mr.Balakrishnan.
Thirumavalavan flays vandalisation
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s president and M.P, Thol.Thirumavalavan has condemned the vandalisation of Chief Architect of India’s Constitution, B.R.Ambedkar and freedom fighter and Dalit icon Immanuel Sekaran’s statues in Madurai.
In a statement issued here, he condemned the desecration of statues and said that it is an attempt by anti-social elements to disrupt peace in southern districts and create a wedge between Dalits and non-Dalits.
He further said that the miscreants involved in the attack should be arrested immediately.
VCK has also decided to hold a protest meeting near District Collectorate on Friday condemning the incident in which Mr. Thirumavalavan would be participating.
The Madurai district committee meeting held on Wednesday said that the protest would highlight the demand that statues should be replaced with bronze replicas.
Aatral Arasu, organising secretary, Kani Amudhan, state deputy secretary, R.Pandiammal, urban district secretary, and M.Ellalan district rural secretary, participated in the meeting.
