Massive protests were held across Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday against Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar over his allegedly abusive remark on the basis of caste to two fellow party member of AIADMK.
It is alleged that M Sokkalingam and his spouse were abused by Bhaskar. Sokkalingam told the TOI, “He abused us by calling our caste name and referred to my support to another senior politician in the district.”
Sokkalingam and his wife were allegedly snubbed by the minister when they sought to meet for some development work relating to the district on October 26.
The protesters, who mostly belong to the backward Mutharaiyar community, demanded the sacking of the minister.
Superintendent of Police, S Uma who led the police force arrested 1200 protesters for staging demonstrations without permission before releasing them later in the evening. She also clarified that no case were registered against the minister.
Earlier, Sokkalingam’s supporters had put up posters condemning the act all throughout the district since last week when the incident happened.
Bhaskar is also the party’s district secretary and belongs to the rival lobby within the AIADMK to that of Sokkalingam, who is the president of Karuppattipatti village panchayat.