BJP TN chief Murugan tries to go on 'Vel yatra' defying ban, detained

BJP's Tamil Nadu unit chief L Murugan, senior leaders, including C T Ravi and scores of Saffron party workers, were on Friday detained at Tiruttani near here by police when y tried to embark on a statewide 'Vel Yatra', defying a ban.

After ir detention, BJP workers std flash protests across Tamil Nadu condemning ir detention and for t allowing yatra.

yatra was to 'expose' DMK, which Murugan alleged was behind 'Karuppar Kootam' that denigrated "Kanda Sashti Kavacham", a spiritual hymn in praise of Lord Muruga.

After party took up matter, four men of group were arrested but demand to book m under National Security Act has t been met yet, Murugan said.

"Who is behind Karuppar Kootam?" he asked, claiming "DMK is behind Kootam" and that legal support was also extended by Dravidian partymen to those arrested.

Karuppar Kootam is a collective of aists with backing from fringe rationalist, Dravidian outfits and group also ran a YouTube channel under same name and it was subsequently blocked following police action.

'Karuppu' means black and 'Kootam' crowd.

"Lord Muruga has given his blessings and we are starting yatra," Murugan told reporters here, despite government disallowing yatra.

Clad in saffron, Murugan boarded a propaganda van from Koyambedu here and proceeded to Tiruttani followed by party workers in many vehicles.

Emerging through sunroof, BJP leader held a 'Vel,' a spear-like weapon of Lord Karthikeya (Muruga), and waved to people.

On reaching Tiruttani, he offered prayers at temple of Lord Muruga.

Amid chants of 'Vetri (victory) vel' and 'Veera (valour) Vel,' when Murugan tried to start yatra in his custom made van, he was detained along with BJP workers.

Besides Murugan, party's national general secretary Ravi, state leaders Pon Radhakrishnan, C P Radhakrishnan and H Raja were among those detained at Tiruttani.

On his twitter handle, Ravi said y cant be stopped in ir endeavour to serve Tamil people.

"We will continue our efforts." In evening, after all of m were released by police, Murugan said 'Vel' would overcome all hurdles.

Though government banning yatra was a matter of "big disappointment," party's initiative to expose those who hurt sentiments of people would go on, he said.

Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy visited Tiruttani to offer worship at temple and Murugan and BJP leaders called on him at a hotel.

In July, after Kootam's purported objectionable reference to hymn surfaced it led to an outr and four men connected to group were arrested.

following month BJP cadres held a state-wide 'Vel' puja.

Tiruttani is 85 km from here, close to Andhra Pradesh border and town is home to Sri Subramanya Swami temple, one of six sacred shrines, 'Padai Veedu' of Lord Muruga.

Vel yatra was originally scheduled to commence from Friday and go on till December 6 covering all six abodes of Lord Muruga or Karthikeya spread across Tamil Nadu.

government, however, refused permission for it "in view of coronavirus pandemic." Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi had petitioned police against permission for yatra alleging that it could lead to violence.

Also, two petitions were filed in Madras High Court against yatra and government informed court on Thursday that re would be permission for it.