Nainar criticises DMK govt for denying permission to BJP event in fishers hamlet

Chennai: BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran condemned the DMK govt for the denial of police permission to a BJP event in Nadukuppam fishermen hamlet falling within Chepauk assembly segment represented by deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

"You cannot be in power forever. You too will face a similar situation in future," Nagenthran told reporters here on Sunday. The programme was organised for BJP cadres to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 121st episode of Mann Ki Baat.

The police said though the BJP functionaries had said the event was only to listen the PM's address, it turned out to be larger in scale as they had arranged ‘anna dhaanam' (free food) for close to 1,000 people.

Also, they had organised felicitations for Nainar Nagenthran since he was participating in the event for the first time after become state president. Since the street BJP had chosen as venue was narrow, permission was denied, police said.

Even before the programme started, police reached the spot and informed the organisers that there was no permission for the event. BJP functionaries picked up a heated argument with the police. Nevertheless, police asked them to move to the nearby marriage hall to conduct the event.

After a prolonged argument, the BJP functionaries reluctantly shifted the programme to the marriage hall.

Eventually, Nainar Nagenthran also reached the hall where he was felicitated. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the event, Nainar asked whether the BJP was denied permission because the event was organised in Udhayanidhi Stalin's constituency.

"Even last year the Mann Ki Baat programme was organised at the same place but there was no untoward incident. Why is it now prevented," he asked.

Nainar said DMK and Udhayanidhi too will have to face a similar consequence soon. Police said the hall also fell in Chepauk constituency.