Thevar Jayanthi: CM Vijay, MK Stalin and Top Leaders Pay Homage Amid High Tension
CM Vijay, MK Stalin and other top leaders pay homage on the 119th birth anniversary of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar amid tight security.
Tamil Nadu is observing the 119th birth anniversary of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and the 64th Guru Pooja today, with political heavyweights and state dignitaries gathering across the region to pay their respects. The celebrations, while marked by reverence, have also seen moments of high drama and a massive security crackdown in the southern districts.
High-Profile Tributes in Madurai and Pasumpon
DMK chief and former Chief Minister MK Stalin led the tributes in Madurai, paying homage at the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar located at Goripalayam. Representing the state government, Minister for Law and Energy Resources R Nirmal Kumar also offered floral tributes at the same venue.
Following the event at Goripalayam, Minister Nirmal Kumar visited Theppakulam, where he garlanded the statue of the Marutha Pandiar brothers amidst slogans raised by party workers. The Minister then departed for Pasumpon village near Kamuthi in the Ramanathapuram district to participate in the 64th Guru Pooja ceremony.
The list of leaders scheduled to pay homage at the Pasumpon memorial is extensive, including:
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay
- AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami
- Naam Tamilar Katchi Chief Coordinator Seeman
- MDMK General Secretary Vaiko
- AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran
- VK Sasikala
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan
Chaos and Confrontation at Goripalayam
The solemnity of the occasion was briefly interrupted by a clash in Madurai. Tension flared at Goripalayam when cadres of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) allegedly attempted to enter the venue alongside a minister. Security personnel blocked their entry, leading to a heated confrontation.
The situation escalated quickly as barricades were pushed down during the commotion. Police personnel had to intervene decisively to restore order and manage the crowd near the statue.
Fort Knox-like Security Across Southern Districts
To prevent any law and order breakdowns during the Thevar Jayanthi celebrations, the state government has implemented an exhaustive security plan across four southern districts: Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, and Virudhunagar.
Deployment and Surveillance
Under the supervision of South Zone Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari, a massive force has been deployed:
- Manpower: Approximately 18,000 police personnel, including 40 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and seven Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs).
- Monitoring: 480 CCTV cameras have been installed for 24/7 surveillance.
- Checkpoints: 118 vehicle-checking points have been established to monitor movement.
In a further precautionary move to maintain peace, all liquor shops across these four districts have been ordered to remain closed.