Veeramani joins issue with Umashankar

January 31, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:37 am IST - COIMBATORE:

Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani said that it was wrong on the part of Indian Administrative Service officer Umashankar to have participated in prayer meetings.

Addressing reporters in Coimbatore on Friday, he said that the Government must ensure that all officers should follow secular policy, there should not be open display of religious affiliation and that no religious events should be held in Government establishments. The officers must refrain from going on pilgrimage to shrines.

On the Central Government organising a meeting to discuss sending back Sri Lankan refugees, he said that the Government must not force them to leave the country.

The people must have the freedom in making a decision. On the Srirangam by-election, he said that the party had declared its support for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, but it would not campaign in the constituency.

He charged the ruling party with using money and muscle power to win the elections.

The Government must act to protect the secular fabric in the country, for under the BJP rule the number of incidences of communal disturbances had increased and was more than what took place during the time of Babri Masjid demolition.

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