By Ahamed Ansar MS, TwoCircles.net,
Trichy, Tamil Nadu: Tensions erupted between protest groups and BJP cadres in this divine city of Tiruchirapalli or Trichy ahead of Narendra Modi’s public meeting on September 26, the first visit to the state after his party announced him as prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
First of its kind in secular coloured Tamil Nadu, apart from normal security check, the Trichy police allegedly also gave oral warning to hostel students of two Muslim minority educational institutions to vacate their rooms till Modi leave the meeting venue.
This triggered already the temporary closure of famous autonomous Muslim institute Jamal Mohammed College, confirmed its student Farsath who do not want to disclose more and even his stream of study fearing police.
“The police visited hostel and asked my Muslim friends who are sharing room with Jamal College students but actually representing MIET to not be present in the campus till Thursday (Sep 26),” said Mohamed Habilur Rasath, a third-year student who is pursuing microbiology in MIET college in Trichy.
“Near my college, a state government run Periyar Arts College is also functioning. But the police did not order them to close. This warning came only for Muslim institutes,” he alleges.
“I’m expecting the official announcement by my college management today (Sep 25) over its possible decision to shut classrooms like Jamal Institute” Rasath told TwoCircles.net.
The police commissioner of Trichy city Mr. Sailesh Kumar Yadav has, however, denied any such circular. He told TwoCircles, “It is false news. There are many institutes in and around the meeting venue, not only Jamal College. We haven’t order such closure for even a single college” Mr. Yadav said.
Since Modi’s visit was announced, many organisations in Trichy are actively distributing pamphlets to locals about the Gujarat Chief Minister on his involvement in post-Godhra riots. Social media in the state is also rife with several social activists in Tamil Nadu demanding Narendra Modi to not touch his feet in Dravidian land.
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of 200 lawyers who are practicing in various courts in Tiruchirapalli had signed a petition and submitted it to the district collector to take preventive measures against BJP members.
The lawyers complaint stated that the BJP men are using high volumed sound systems and passing lewd comments at veiled women in Muslim majority suburbs of Trichy city with the motive to disturb communal harmony during the visit of Modi.
Meanwhile over ten Muslim and other organisations are preparing to hold black flag protest against Narendra Modi at Trichy Airport on Thursday. Police beefed up in all corners of the city and three-tier security to be given to Narendra Modi in light of the possible terror threat alert sent by the intelligence.
On Wednesday, police arrested the Trichy law college students Chaaruvaagan, Sheik, Muthu Kumar, Vasanth and Sangathamizhan who were allegedly indulging in signature campaign among students of Periyar EVR Arts and Science College, a government institution against Narendra Modi’s visit.