It is hardly turning one month since 23-year-old Subhasri, a techie from Chennai, lost her life after an illegal banner, erected by AIADMK leader P Jayagopal, fell on her and caused her death. Now, several members of the AIADMK government have approached the Madras High Court, seeking permission to erect banners ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is set to take place on October 10-13 in Tamil Nadu.
Slamming this, actor-politician Kamal Haasan wrote to the Prime Minister on Twitter to express his displeasure.
“Honourable @PMOIndia. While Thamizh Nadu and Thamizhians are struggling to cope with the loss of Shubasri’s death, the Thamizh Nadu Government has approached the courts to obtain permission to erect your banners,” he wrote.
Honourable @PMOIndia While Thamizh Nadu and Thamizhians are struggling to cope up with the loss of Shubasri’s death, the Thamizh Nadu Government has approached the courts to obtain permission to erect your banners.(1/2)
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 2, 2019
“If you act as a pioneer in taking the first step to put an end to this haphazard banner culture, it will reflect your concern towards the sentiments of Thamizhians, and that in itself will garner you the greatest publicity possible. Jai Hind!”
If you act as a pioneer in taking the first step to put an end to this haphazard banner culture, it will reflect your concern towards the sentiments of Thamizhians, and that in itself will garner you the greatest publicity possible. Jai Hind! (2/2)
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) October 2, 2019
Prior to this, Kamal Haasan had also spoken about the issue on Bigg Boss and stated that the public should reprimand those who put up hoardings.
In Subhasri’s case, an illegal hoarding was erected in view of the wedding of AIADMK leader Jayagopal’s son. She was riding her two-wheeler when the loosely hung banner detached and fell on her. As a result, she lost her balance, throwing her onto the path of an oncoming truck.
Following her death, Jayagopal was absconding for 14 days before the police finally arrested him from Krishnagiri, on September 27.
Prime Minister Modi and Xi Jinping will be holding meetings in Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) from October 11 to 13. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) proposed that banners be allowed to be placed in 14 different locations in the city, including nine spots on East Coast Road (ECR) and two sites in Mahabalipuram.
Though the Madras High Court had strictly stated in 2018 that such banners and hoardings, which would cause inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians, could not be erected by any registered or unregistered political party, the issue continues to plague citizens.
After Subashri’s death, there was a massive crackdown on illegal hoardings, banners, and publicity material in Chennai and other districts such as Trichy and Thanjavur.
In Chennai alone, around 3,400 illegal banners, hoardings and flex boards were removed.
Actors Vijay and Suriya, too, had appealed to their fans to not erect giant cut-outs of them ahead of their big releases.