Coimbatore: While political parties and Periyarists have been paying tribute to Thanthai Periyar on his 46th death anniversary, protests have erupted after the official Twitter handle of BJP posted a caustic tweet saying Maniammai, wife of Periyar as his daughter.
Coimbatore: While political parties and Periyarists have been paying tribute to Thanthai Periyar on his 46th death anniversary, protests have erupted after the official Twitter handle of BJP posted a caustic tweet saying Maniammai, wife of Periyar as his daughter.
Ridiculing Periyar's second marriage at the age of 70 with a 32-year-old Maniammai, the BJP tweeted 'Today is the memorial day of EV. Ramasamy, father of Maniammai!! In support of capital punishment for child sexual offenders, let's pledge to have a society free of POCSO criminals!'.
Photos of Periyar and Maniammai were also attached in the tweet.
However after an uproar, the page had deleted the tweet.
Expressing their anger and condemnation on the slanderous tweet on Periyar's personal life, cadres of TPDK, VCK, Dravida Tamilar Katchi and Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi staged protests in Gandhipuram. Lambasting against the tweet, the cadres held placards stating "Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi married a minor, a 16-year-old girl."
The cadres rallied from Gandhipuram to the BJP Office in Siddhapudur raising slogans against BJP. They alleged that BJP is trying to divert people's attention in Tamil Nadu from CAA issues.
"Action must be taken for slewing offensive remarks about Periyar", they demanded.
Following this more than 40 protestors who tried to lay siege were arrested.
About Maniammai
Maniammai succeeded him as the leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam upon his death in 1973.
Maniammai joined Dravidar Kazhagam founded by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in 1942–43. Periyar later married her at the age of 70. Sources close to Periyar had indicated that Maniyammai, being a woman, could not be named his heir, and therefore he took to the legal recourse of marrying her so that she could become his legal heir.