Former Railway Minister and PMK candidate for Arakkonam R Velu on Tuesday submitted a petition to Collector R Nanthagopal seeking to revoke the ban issued by the district police department against their election campaign.
Also, Velu demanded that the Collector take appropriate action against the Superintendent of Police of Vellore P Vijayakumar, alleging that the police officer was acting in a biased manner and had invoked section 30 (2) of the Police Act purposely, to prevent them from campaigning in Arakkonam Lok Sabha constituency.
The SP had issued the ban order on December 15, 2013, under the provision of the Police Act. “The ban order was issued between December 15, 2013, and February 22, 2014, stating that our campaign will trigger law and order problems and communal clashes,” said Velu and added, “ I will submit petitions to the Election Commission, IG (North Zone) and DIG (Vellore Range) demanding the transfer of the SP from Vellore district, to ensure fair and free elections,” said Velu, adding, “I will stage a hunger protest pressing for my demands to cancel the ban against campaigning and transfer the SP.”
The PMK had been campaigning since October after Ramadoss announced Velu as the candidate for Arakkonam constituency.
“I have been meeting the villagers and campaigning. There was no law and order problem. I am campaigning in Thiruthani in Thiruvalluvar district, which is part of Arakkonam constituency, till date,” he said and criticised the police for banning the campaign, citing law and order problems.
Velu said the miscreants hurled stones and damaged his vehicle when he was on his way to campaign but the police had failed to take action.
Instead, the police was stopping him from canvassing for votes he said, adding, “I wonder how the SP and the police will ensure safety of candidates in future.”