NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JAN 22
Security has been beefed up at the residence of Rajinikanth in Poes Garden, following threats by Periyarist organisations over his recent speech on the anti-superstition rally organised by Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in 1971 in Salem.
Armed Police and city police are on round-the-clock duty, in addition to regular patrol teams and plainclothesmen. All precautionary arrangements are in place to prevent any untoward incident, police sources said.
At the Thughlak magazine’s 50th anniversary event on January 14, Rajnikanth said Periyar had held an anti-superstition rally in which obscene pictures of Ram and Sita were paraded, and garlanded with slippers.
Despite strong condemnation from Periyarist organisations, the actor stood by his remarks.
On Wednesday, activists of the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam staged a demonstration against the actor on Cathedral Road, a short distance from his residence. They shouted slogans against him and asked him to admit that he had been factually wrong.
Umapathi, president, south Chennai District unit of the organisation, led the protest. The protesters were detained by police.
