Around 35 cadre of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam were arrested on Monday when they attempted to show black flags to Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy who was here to attend a conference. The protest was organised to condemn the Centre for providing training to Sri Lankan defence personnel despite opposition from various sections in the State.
The minister was in the city to attend a conference organised by Southern India Mills Association when the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam cadre attempted to besiege the luxury hotel where the conference was to be held.
Raising slogans against the Congress-led government, they waved black flags and tore banners put up in front of the hotel welcoming Narayanasamy. “Even as the Tamil Nadu fishermen are facing attacks from Sri Lankan forces in the sea, the Congress-led government is going ahead in providing training to the country’s defence personnel. This shows that the Congress party is not interested in the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu. So we have decided to show black flags to all the Congress Union Ministers whenever they visit the State,” said V Aruchamy, governing body member of TPDK.
However, the cadre were removed from the spot by the police before the arrival of Narayanasamy. As many as 35 cadre were booked for unlawful assembly. They were released later in the evening.