Chennai
Visuals recorded during a recent agitation by the actor-turned-politician have now gone viral. The actor, who heads the Mukkulathor Puli Peravai, also allegedly instigates his followers to indulge in violence, if their community was attacked by other caste members.
“It was I who gave the Koovathur idea to the AIADMK leaders suggesting that as the location is surrounded by sea on all sides, the MLAs can be housed there ahead of the crucial floor test. No one can deny this, but now they have turned traitors,” he alleged.
Karunaas, who spoke for about 45 minutes during his Puli Peravai agitation programme here last week, said that it was his Mukkulathor (Thevar) community that offered the CM’s post as charity to Edappadi Palaniswami. Karunaas also chided some media houses for blacking him out. He also criticised PMK founder Ramadoss for allegedly misleading the public that Vanniyars were the largest caste in Tamil Nadu. Demanding a caste-based census at the earliest, he claimed that his Mukkulathor community was in majority in the State.
Against the backdrop of criticism from different outfits and AIADMK leaders warning Karunaas for his controversial speech, the MLA later in the day, expressed regret if his speech had offended other community members. “I only pointed out the demands of my community. It is not my intention to demean or speak ill of others,” Karunaas said. However, the actor who made a hate speech against an IPS officer chose not to back out from his earlier comments on the city police.
BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, AIADMK ministers D Jayakumar and OS Manian condemned Karunaas for the controversial speech. “The issue has been taken up with the chief minister for necessary action and Karunaas will face the consequences for his hate speech,” Jayakumar told the media. “Tamil Nadu police would not be mute spectators and they will not hesitate to take legal action against those who instigate communal violence,” handlooms minister Manian said.
Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi leader ER Eswaran, in a statement, demanded the arrest of Karunaas for instigating communal violence.
Attempt to murder case against MLA
A day after the speech by actor-turned-politician and MLA Karunaas allegedly denigrating the Chief Minister and police officers went viral, Nungambakkam police on Thursday booked him under six sections. The sections under which Karunaas has been booked included 153, 153 (A) (1)(a),(1)(b)(c)(ii), 307, 506 (i) read with 120 (b) IPC and Section 41(VI)(a)(b)(c)(II), Madras City Police Act 1888, for criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, promoting disharmony, attempt to murder and issuing death threat. After the Hindu Makkal Munnani submitted a petition at the City Police Commissionerate seeking action against him, Nungambakkam police on Thursday booked him.
However, the officers refused to comment on whether he would be arrested. The Thevar Pulippadai leader, during his party meeting at Valluvarkottam on Monday made defamatory remarks against the Chief Minister as well as police officers. Footage of the speech made available to the media showed him threatening a particular police officer for attacking his men. He also encouraged his cadre not to worry about murdering someone as he would be there to take care of the consequences.
Karunaas told his party men that even Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami fears him, citing an incident at the Thevar Jayanthi event when police officers asked him to stay away until the Chief Minister paid homage at the Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial. More video clippings, which did the rounds on Wednesday, showed him making casteist remarks.
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