Attack on Vaiko in Chennai unfortunate: Political leaders

G Ramakrishnan, state secretary, CPM, said that the DMK’s party leaders could have prevented the incident. “At a time, when there is a healthy political trend in the state, such incidents will be seen differently. Party leaders have responsibility to prevent clashes by advising the cadres,” he said and added that it is a political culture when a party’s chief is hospitalised, other political leaders including opposition members would visit the hospital. Similarly, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said, “We have seen such incidents during election time. However, when prominent leaders are being admitted in hospitals, such an attack is unacceptable.” 

Further, the DMK could have been little more cautious, he suggested. Vaiko was a former DMK member and Karunanidhi had groomed him. In such a condition, he should have wanted to visit DMK chief, said AK Moorthy, former Union Minister and senior leader of PMK. “Under these circumstances, Vaiko should have been allowed to visit the DMK chief. Some cadre should have sensed well before Vaiko’s arrival and planned for creating ruckus,” Moorthy added. 

Political retaliation during unfortunate moments should not happen, he said and hinted all the parties’ cadres should understand the fact that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Mutharasan, state secretary, CPI, echoed similar view. “There may be thousands of differences among the political parties and leaders. But, there should be no physical attack under any circumstances.”