Ayyakannu, BJP worker blame each other for assault

Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, Tamilisai charged that Ayyakannu, leading the Farmers Association for Linking South Indian Rivers had assaulted her party’s women’s wing functionary Nellaiyammal at Tiruchendur and demanded his arrest. 

She said Ayyakannu was distributing pamphlets against the Union government at Tiruchendur temple. When Nellaiyammal objected to it, he attacked the woman functionary besides using abusive language, Tamilisai said and added that Nellaiyammal had been admitted to hospital. “Who gave permission for Ayyakannu to distribute pamphlets at Tiruchendur temple?” she asked and warned of adverse consequences if Ayyakanu was not arrested. 

However, Ayyakannu, known for his protests in Delhi demanding the setting up of Cauvery Management Board denied attacking the woman and said it was she who assaulted him, despite his old age. Farmers unions backed Ayyakannu and condemned the BJP woman functionary. 

Coordinator of Tamil Nadu Farmers Unions Federation PR Pandian said it is well known that Ayyakannu is conducting a campaign tour from Kanniyakumari to Chennai with demands for farmers’ welfare and BJP had incited its woman cadre to assault him. “It was a deliberate and planned attack by the BJP. The incident is an insult to the farmers of Tamil Nadu,” he said. He also demanded the arrest of the BJP functionary and those who incited her to indulge in the attack. 

Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai leader T Vellaiyan too condemned the BJP and vowed to commence a campaign against the saffron party for acting against the welfare of traders and farmers. He said his movement would launch the campaign from Tiruchendur temple and Ayyakannu would inaugurate it. Meanwhile, members of various farmer associations held a demonstration in front of the Tiruchy Collectorate on Friday protesting the assault. They submitted a petition to the Personal Assistant (G) in the absence of Collector K Rajamani. 

The farmers demanded that the concerned BJP functionary be arrested and tried for attacking a farmer representative of Ayyakannu’s stature. 

Moreover, Ayyakannu has been receiving anonymous phone calls threatening him of dire consequences if he continues with his anti-Centre campaign. The recordings of some of the calls have been circulating on the social media.