Suspecting involvement of some “Muslim fundamentalists” in the attack on his house with two bottles filled with a mixture of petrol and diesel here on Monday night, Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary H. Raja said that his outright condemnation of “Muslims- orchestrated” riots in Ambur was the immediate provocation.
Talking to The Hindu over phone, he said that the attack took place hours after he hit out at the ‘Muslim fundamentalists’ for targeting Hindus, while addressing a public meeting in Perambur in Chennai on Monday night.
Provocation
When no political party in the State criticised the Ambur riots, the BJP demanded stern action against the rioters and urged the government to provide compensation to those – mostly Hindus – who lost their properties. “This might have angered and provoked Muslim fundamentalists to carry out the attack on his house,” he said.
He had also criticised Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) and its Ramanathapuram MLA M.H. Jawahirullah for targeting Hindus in their attacks while staging protests over some issues.
When they condemned the SP Pattinam Sub-Inspector of Police who allegedly gunned down an accused, a Muslim, inside the police station last year, the MMK volunteers staged a road roko in Devipattinam and attached Hindu passengers, he alleged.
Similarly, when they staged a demonstration in front of the US Embassy in Chennai protesting against Kamal Hassan’s ‘Viswaroopam’, they attacked Hindus, Mr. Raja said.
Road roko
Meanwhile, police arrested 32 volunteers of the BJP and Hindu Makkal Katchi when they staged a road roko near Periyar statue in Karaikudi, demanding the immediate arrest of those behind the attack on Mr. Raja’s house.
