CHENNAI: Charging that there were sections among the pro-jallikattu protestors at Marina who carried photographs of slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and that plans were afoot to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the police used only “minimum force” to disperse the “anti-national” and “anti-social” elements and “extremist forces” to ensure safety of life and property.
“Anti-national, anti-social and extremist forces infiltrated the protests launched by jallikattu enthusiasts, students, youngsters and the general public. Without allowing the protesters to disperse, these forces acted against the democratically elected government,” he said, replying to Leader of Opposition MK Stalin.
The Chief Minister also showed copies of a picture of slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and placards carrying defamatory slogans including one that read ‘OPS died just now’.
The photograph which shows two young men on a scooter that has a sticker of bin Laden’s face has been making the rounds on social media after being shared by BJP leader H Raja on January 20.
However, Express correspondents and photojournalists did not spot any Laden posters at Marina, while there were many of leaders from Gandhi to APJ Abdul Kalam, and Subhash Chandra Bose to LTTE leader V Prabakaran. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said it would hear all jallikattu related cases on January 31. big debate: p3