COIMBATORE: Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to issue licences to leaders of Hindu groups to possess firearms for the purpose of self-protection.
Speaking to reporters here, Muthalik said, though police security is being provided to the leaders, it will not be possible to give them protection wherever they go. Hence, the demand for licenced weapons. “Not only Hindu leaders, even Dalits may keep one if they feel their life is in danger. Hindu leaders need guns to protect their lives from extremists as they are being targeted frequently. As many as 127 Hindu leaders were murdered over the last decade. The government should cancel the licence if the weapons are found to be misused,” he said.
In this regard, Muthalik, along with other Hindu leaders, submitted a petition to Coimbatore City Police commissioner AK Viswanathan, which will be forwarded to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Muthalik further said that marriages should be performed only before authorities such as judges and registrars. Colleges should bring in dress code for woman students and the State government should phase out liquor shops across the State as the lives of youth are getting ruined due to liquor consumption, he added.