Despite MDMK general secretary Vaiko’s warning, the party workers courted arrest after attempting to lay siege to BJP leader H. Raja’s house here on Sunday.
Police arrested 45 MDMK volunteers and detained them in a marriage hall when they went in a procession to Mr. Raja’s house at Subramaniyapuram near here. They shouted slogans against him and demanded that Mr. Raja withdraw his remarks against Mr. Vaiko. Those arrested included district secretary ‘Pulavar’ S. Seventhiappan and town secretary ‘Sirpi’ Sethu Thiagarajan.
Mr. Raja, the BJP National secretary in-charge of Kerala and Lakshwadeep, was away in Kumbakonam when the MDMK volunteers attempted to lay siege to his house. He had warned Mr. Vaiko to mind his tongue while criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Mr. Vaiko could not roam around freely in the State if he continued to hit out at Mr. Modi and Mr. Singh in singular, Mr. Raja had warned.
When the agitated MDMK volunteers geared up to stage demonstration , Mr .Vaiko had asked them not to resort to any agitation and warned that those who violate his order would be expelled from the party.
“We can’t remain silent spectators, that too while being in Karaikudi, the home town of Mr. Raja when he held out a threat to our leader who has been a symbol of political decency,” Mr. Seventhiappan said. Mr Vaiko had warned them against staging protests displaying his political culture and magnanimity. “But, we cannot remain silent,” Mr. Seventhiappan said.
When contacted, Mr. Raja, who was on his way to Kannanur, said he could not be cowed down by such acts of “divisive forces.”
“The attempt to lay siege to my house amounts to personal intimidation. But, I can never be cowed down by such acts,” he told The Hindu .
If the MDMK cadre had objection to his remarks, they should stage protests at public places and not in front of his house, Mr. Raja said.
