Chennai, May 1 (IANS) Facing criticism for inciting caste violence in Tamil Nadu, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss Wednesday demanded a probe into the April 25 incidents at Marakkanam near here, in which 20 people were injured.
The party is also facing criticism for violating the sanctity of the famed shore temple at Mamallapuram.
Terming as false the allegations that the party incited the violence, Ramadoss, a former union health minister, said: “The PMK is the victim of violence committed by cadres of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). The violence committed by VCK is blamed on us.”
However, Anbumani Ramadoss tendered an apology on PMK’s behalf for the actions of its cadres for violating the sanctity of the famed shore temple at Mamallapuram.
The PMK cadres climbed atop the temple, tied party flags and also dirtied the area.
The PMK held its youth conference April 25 at Mamallapuram, the famed tourist spot around 70-km from here.
Terming the youth conference as a success, Ramadoss said other parties are opposing PMK because of that.
He demanded a judicial probe and also a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the April 25 violence.
On Tuesday, PMK founder S. Ramadoss, father of Anbumani Ramadoss, was arrested for defying police orders and holding protests at Villupuram, around 170 km from here.
In the state assembly, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa categorically blamed the Marakkanam violence on the PMK and Ramadoss’s “hate speech” at the party’s youth conference.
