Pon Radhakrishnan, a Union Minister and BJP leader from Karnataka, claimed Tamil Nadu turning to a training centre for extremists. It no longer remains a peaceful state as it used to be, he added.
Various Hindu outfits and BJP had organized a meeting to pay homage to the deceased of serial bomb blasts that took place on February 14, 1998. He alleged that Tamil Nadu is becoming the camp and training centre for extremist forces.
“Tamil Nadu is no longer the peaceful state (“amaidhi poonga”)… Naxalites, Maoists, Tamil extremists and Islamic terrorists have joined hands against the administration, which was evident during the jallikattu agitation last year,” the Union Minister alleged.
Mr Radhakrishnan claimed that these forces are making plans for next 10 to 20 years. Whether this had been brought to the notice of the police department is not sure, he added.
The state government did not allow paying homage to those killed in the serial blasts. Interestingly, BJP veteran L K Advani was addressing an election rally when the blast happened, claiming 52 lives. The government did not bother allowing erecting a memorial pillar.
In addition, 900 activists from Hindu outfits and BJP were detained when they gathered near the meeting venue. They had come there to pay homage to those killed in the blasts. Bomb explosions totalling 19 number shook various parts of the city before Advani’s public meeting at R S Puram locality.