Tension in Tirupur as MDMK protests PM Modi's visit
COIMBATORE: Ahead of the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi's visit to Tirupur city, a clash broke out between Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) party workers and Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) loyalists, creating tension in Tirupur city, reports reaching Coimbatore said.
The MDMK workers along with some members of fringe Hindu outfits participated in a black flag protest, symbolically opposing Mr. Modi's visit to Tirupur city.
More than 200 MDMK workers under the leadership of party general secretary Vaiko gathered about 15 kilometers from the venue of the government programme and staged a black flag demonstration on Sunday morning.
To counter the protests, BJP loyalists with saffron flags, mingled with the crowd and raised slogans against Vaiko. In the clash, a woman BJP activist was injured. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
Vaiko who spearheaded the demonstration said in his address to party workers that the Modi government had done nothing good for the state of Tamil Nadu.
“Narendra Modi did not even visit the areas impacted by Gaja cyclone in the state,” Vaiko charged.
Notwithstanding the protest, an unruffled Prime Minister landed at Coimbatore international airport on Sunday afternoon from where he proceeded to the venue of the government function near Tirupur.
Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration minister Mr. S P Velumani and Governor of Tamil Nadu Sri Banwarilal Purohit received Sri Narendra Modi at the airport from where he was flown by a chartered helicopter to the venue at Perumanallur near Tirupur, sources added.