PIL Filed Against BJP Leader H Raja Over Periyar’s Statue FB Post

BJP’s H Raja claimed he did not post about razing the Periyar statue, and blamed a Facebook administrator.

A row erupted in Tamil Nadu over H Raja’s remarks in a Facebook post indicating that Periyar’s statue could be the next to be pulled down after Lenin’s statue was razed.

(Photo: The News Minute)

A PIL was filed in Madras High Court by advocate Surya Prakasam on 7 March in wake of BJP national secretary H Raja's Facebook post on Periyar statue, ANI reported. The Court will hear the case in the afternoon on 7 March.

After the Lenin statue was razed in Tripura on 5 March, H Raja posted that Periyar would be next to fall. “Who is Lenin? What is his connection to India? What is the connection of communists to India? Lenin’s statue was destroyed in Tripura. Today Lenin’s statue, tomorrow Tamil Nadu’s EVR Ramaswami’s statue,” Raja posted on 6 March.

After drawing criticism from political parties in Tamil Nadu for his comments on the Dravidian icon, H Raja sought to blame his 'Facebook administrator' for the gaffe, PTI reported.

Raja deleted the post and said on 7 March: “Yesterday the admin has posted without my permission that EVR’s statue will be demolished after Lenin’s. That’s why I have deleted it. Opinions should be countered with opinions, not violence. I have no intention of hurting anyone. If anyone has been hurt, then I express regret from the bottom of my heart. Acts like damaging EVR’s statues are not acceptable. In a peaceful way, we have to bring together Hindus and work towards protecting nationalism and faith in Tamil Nadu. It is the time to involve ourselves in the path shown by Periyar and Muthuramalinga Thevar”.

H Raja ‘posted’ this message with visuals of the Lenin statue being removed.(Photo courtesy: The News Minute)

H Raja’s apology comes hours after a petrol bomb was hurled at a BJP office around 500 km from in Coimbatore by unidentified persons at 3:30 am on 7 March. While no one was hurt in the attack, reports state that the name board of the office was on the floor and a bomb had crashed through a window, the The News Minute reported.

According to the News Minute, three members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) were arrested at Tirupattur in Vellore district for the vandalisation of Periyar’s statue. Police suspects that the attackers, who arrived on bikes, could have been among those protesting the BJP’s leaders’ remarks on the streets in Coimbatore on 6 March.

DMK Demands Arrest of Raja Over Post

The DMK announced protests against H Raja and the BJP in Tamil Nadu. “This is pure hate and Talibanisation of India. Such things happen only in Taliban. In a democracy we don’t indulge in political vandalism or threaten to do it,” a DMK spokesperson said.

No one can even dare to touch EVR’s statue. H Raja’s comments are done to incite violence. He has been repeatedly doing this. He should be arrested and Goondas Act slapped against him.

MK Stalin, reacting to the post on Facebook

On the Other Hand, BJP Men Laud Vandalism

However, BJP supporters lauded the party’s move to root out rivals whose ideology differs from those that of the discourse pandered to by the ruling party.

Vice President of the BJP Youth wing in Tripura, SG Suryah, was among those hailing the fall of the statue of Lenin. In a tweet, he said: “BJP successfully completed the fall of Lenin in #Tripura! Can’t wait for the fall of EV Ramasamy statues in Tamil Nadu.”

(With inputs from The News Minute, PTI, ANI)

(This story has been updated)

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