Check violence against Tamils, says Pon Radhakrishnan

KANYAKUMARI: The BJP surprisingly suddenly a strident note on Monday on the fallout of agitations on both sides over the Cauvery water issue, with the party’s nominee in the Modi government, Pon Radhakrishnan warning the Karnataka government to “check violence against the Tamils there, or else face consequences.”

Regretting the reported attacks on the Tamils living in Karnataka following the Supreme Court’s order to release water to Tamil Nadu in Cauvery, the lone member from the state in the Union cabinet, Pon Radhakrishnan speaking to media persons at Nagercoil said that the Congress government in Karnataka led by Siddaramaiah has allegedly turned blind eye to the violence unleashed against the people of Tamil origin in Karnataka by some fanatic outfits.

“The Siddaramaiah government should take immediate steps to protect Tamils in the state, lest it has to face the consequence,” warned Pon Radhakrishnan, who however refused to clarify whether the ‘consequence’ he had mentioned would be the usage of stringent constitutional provisions against the state.

Condemning the attacks on a few Karnataka-based organisations and vehicles with Karnataka registration in Tami Nadu, he urged the pro-Tamil outfits and leaders to condemn those miscreants trying to whip up violence against Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu.

Pon Rahdhakrishnan, however, had great appreciation for the Tamil Nadu government and its chief minister for her approach in the Cauvery river water dispute. “I too must appreciate the ruling party of Tamil Nadu for being so patient in the issue though the AIADMK party general secretary and the Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa’s effigies were burnt in Karnataka,” added the BJP minister.
NTK members arrested:

Around 50 cadres of the Naam Thamilar Katchi (NTK), who took up a procession condemning the attacks on the Tamils in Karnataka were arrested as they tried to lay siege to the Karnataka Bank at Vettooranimadam in Nagercoil. It created a flutter in front of the Nagercoil branch of the Karnataka Bank as NTK cadres had heated argument with the police.