Date:24/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/24/stories/2006072414440400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DMK panchayat chief disrupts public meeting

Staff Reporter

CPI(M) files complaint against unruly behaviour When the crowd asked him to get down from the stage, he turned his ire on them and threatened to "finish" them off

TAMBARAM : The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president of the Pozhichalur Village Panchayat tried to disrupt a CPI(M)-led public meeting at Pozhichalur on Sunday by leaping on to the stage and threatening party leaders and the audience, which comprised residents.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) members have lodged a police complaint against M. Gnaanamani, the DMK panchayat leader.

S. Narasimhan, Pallavaram Municipal councilor, was addressing the meeting on the proposed airport expansion, when Gnaanamani and some members of the DMK arrived in a speeding car that screeched to a halt, stopping dangerously close to a section of the audience.

CPI(M) members, including T. Nandagopal, South Chennai district secretary and R. Krishnamurthy, Pammal -- Anakapathur area secretary were present on the dais when the panchayat chief climbed on the stage and asked the CPI(M) leaders to get off. When the crowd asked him get down from the stage, he turned his ire on them and threatened to "finish" them off and warned that they would face "dire consequences."

Some of his supporters, whom residents alleged were under the influence of liquor, threw chairs at them.

When N. Varadarajan, State secretary of CPI(M), arrived, he was surrounded by members reportedly belonging to the DMK. CPI(M) members formed a cordon around him and took him to the stage. Meanwhile, a policeman came to the spot and took Mr. Gnaanamani away from the stage. Residents of Pozhichalur criticised their panchayat chief's behaviour. At the meeting, Mr. Varadarajan made it clear they were not against airport expansion but would voice the problems of the people.