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TN bans casteist posters and graffiti

The Tamil Nadu government today banned posters and wall-writings which were likely to provoke casteist feelings, in a bid to contain the recurrent caste clashes in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who made the announcement to the media after a cabinet meeting at the state secretariat in Madras, said permission would also be denied for taking out processions and rallies which were likely to incite violence.

Stern action would be taken under the existing laws against those found violating the ban on pasting posters or defacing walls of private and public property with provocative slogans, he warned.

Asked why the state government did not ban conferences and rallies of caste organisations for the time being, he said action would be taken only on the basis of specific incidents.

Karunanidhi said he would visit all the areas affected by the recent caste clashes in Ramanathapuram district, including Paramakudi, tomorrow.

In Madurai, meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home M R Janardhanam today said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham would continue to press for the dismissal of the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham government in Tamil Nadu which was 'unable' to maintain law and order.

The minister, who is leading a five-member team of AIADMK MPs to Ramanathapuram district, said the clashes exposed the state government's inefficiency in maintaining law and order.

Stating that an editorial in an English daily had pointed out that some wall writings had caused the clashes, he criticised the state government for not taking precautionary measures to avert the clashes.

He also criticised Karunanidhi for not visiting the affected areas immediately after the clashes. Then chief minister J Jayalalitha had visited Kadambur immediately after similar clashes, he recalled.

After visiting the riot-hit areas, the team would submit a report to Jayalalitha.

UNI

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