Tamil Nadu

Call to end ‘poster culture’ that creates communal tension

VILLUPURAM: Political leaders and heads of all religions have sought an end to the “poster culture” fanning communal tension.

Such a view was expressed at a meeting convened here on Sunday by Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy to foster communal harmony.

The participants said that inflammatory posters on communal flare-up elsewhere were prominently displayed across Villupuram district, which led to violence.

Posters on discriminatory practices against Dalit Christians at Eraiyur compounded the issue because subsequently several posters appeared with claims and counter claims, which all created more tension.

Several huge flexiboards appeared on Orissa killings, calling for protest closure of Christian institutions even though a majority of the students studying there happened to be Hindus.

Such incendiary materials did great harm to society and affected peace and harmony.

The participants said that there must be restrictions, if not a ban, on posters and sloganeering that would start communal problems.

Taking cognizance of these views, the meeting adopted a resolution stating that for the next one month, no religious and political rallies and meetings would be organised without the permission of the Superintendent of Police.

Even posters and slogans related to the meetings should get the prior concurrence of the officer.

In yet another resolution, the meeting appealed to the press and the media to exercise restraint in reporting communal issues.

Mr. Ponmudy said that the quick succession of events in which the graves and the place of worship of the minority communities was damaged recently in Villupuram were a matter of regret.

Care should be taken to ensure that such incidents did not recur, he said.

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