BJP leader demands arrest of DK chief Veeramani

A senior BJP leader today demanded the arrest of Dravidar Kazhagam chief Veeramani for "wounding" the religious sentiments of Hindus by holding the controversial Mangalsutra removal event.
"Veeramani fraudulently held a Mangalsutra removal programme on April 14 when an appeal against that event was pending before Madras High Court," BJP National Secretary H Raja told reporters here after taking part in a protest jointly organised by several Hindu outfits against the DK's Mangalsutra removal event.
The DK organised event saw about 25 women remove their "thaali" (mangalsutra) and soon thereafter a scuffle broke out between members of the rationalist outfit and the Shiv Sena. Some members of both outfits were arrested.

Madras High Court Judge D Hari Paranthaman had allowed Mangalsutra removal and beef banquet on April 13.
It was however stayed by a Division Bench on April 14 morning after an appeal by the State. However, the event was held before that. DK then cancelled the beef eating event.
"Veeramani must be arrested and appropriate legal action taken against him for repeatedly insulting the religious sentiments of Hindus," Raja told PTI.
The event, which was strongly opposed by Hindu outfits, was announced by DK after a Tamil news TV channel last month cancelled a programme "Thaali (Mangalsutra) a boon or bane" following protest from Hindu Munnani, a Sangh Parivar outfit.

"Beef banquet" was announced as a mark of DK's opposition to the idea of banning cow slaughter, beef-eating and a related recent ban in Maharashtra.