Chennai, Sep 25 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Tuesday asked his party men to ignore “provocative remarks” by Sangh Parivar leaders and exercise “caution” in an effort to normalise the face-off between the ruling DMK and the pro-Hindutva outfits even as Bharatiya Janata Party cadres in several cities continued with their demonstrations against the attacks on their party offices.
Despite Karunanidhi’s appeal, the DMK supporters protested relentlessly, demanding the arrest of Ram Vilas Vedanti, a former MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who had reportedly called for assassinating Karunanidhi for making derogatory remarks against the Lord Ram.
In a statement here, Karunanidhi said, “By stoking communal frenzy and by disturbing law and order, they are looking for excuses. Hence our workers and allies should exercise caution.”
The remarks of “religious fundamentalists” were “aimed at provoking the DMK” and “would disturb law and order and stall” the Sethusamudram Ship canal project, he said.
“They are trying to bring a bad name to the government,” Karunanidhi said, alleging that Vedanti’s remarks could “derail” the project.
“Everyone should be cautious and work towards educating the masses on the sinister motives of communal forces”, the Chief Minister said.
“Some people were planning to incite communal passions, disturb law and order and indulge in acts of violence”, he added.
Reports from Coimbatore said, nearly a hundred DMK workers staged a demonstration in the city, protesting Vedanti’s call against Karunanidhi. Police has been deployed in the area.
At the same time, nearly 700 BJP workers also protested in Coimbatore against the DMK attacks Sunday on BJP officses throughout the state.