Pro-lTTE elements shouting anti-India and anti-BJP slogans staged a demonstration near BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy's residence on Monday. A heavy force of policemen deployed along the arterial Beach Road stopped the protesters 250 metres away from Dr Swamy's residence. Commuters had a harrowing time as traffic along the Beach Road was disrupted for more than one hour because of the demonstration.
The rally was led by Vel Murugan, a pro-lTTE lawyer who was expelled from the PMK following differences of opinion with party founder Ramdoss. Terming Swamy as anti-Tamil Eelam, Murugan and other pro-lTTE activists has declared that they would not allow him anywhere in Tamil Nadu.
Swamy reached Chennai on Monday morning to attend some functions in the city. Because of the deployment of heavy police teams along the road, there were no untoward incidents.
Immediately after the pronouncement of verdict in the disproportionate wealth case against AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on September 27, the AIADMK activists had staged a march to Dr Swamy's residence, pelted stones and burnt his effigies. Since then police security has been beefed up in the area. It was Dr Swamy who filed the disproportionate wealth case against Jayalalithaa in a Chennai court in 1996. The DMK Government took it up following the court order asking the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to investigate the charges against the AIADMK leader.
"There was no AIADMK cadre present during the Monday’s demonstration. Some anti-social elements and professional demonstrators were shouting anti-India and anti-Swamy slogans," said Madan, who is in-charge of Dr Swamy's residence.