Tamil Nadu

Subhasri death: AIADMK, DMK, AMMK and PMK urge cadres to not use banners

The AIADMK asked cadre to avoid putting up banners that inconvenience the public, while DMK chief Stalin said the placing of banners on roads needs to be stopped.

Written by : Manasa Rao

Hours after the Madras High Court directed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to issue a statement to party cadre, the AIADMK leadership has asked its members not to put up illegal hoardings. A day after the tragic death of 23-year-old Chennai techie Subhasri shook the state, the ruling party issued a statement on Friday asking cadre to altogether avoid putting up banners that inconvenience the public. Other parties including the DMK, PMK and AMMK have urged their functionaries not to put up banners and hoardings for party events.

On Thursday, an illegal hoardings placed to welcome Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to the wedding of former AIADMK Councillor S Jayagopal turned into a death trap when it fell on 23-year-old Subhasri. Losing her balance on the Thoraipakkam- Pallavaram road, she fell onto the road following which a tanker lorry ran over the young woman. She succumbed to her injuries an hour later at the Chromepet General Hospital. 

AIADMK

Declaring that the primary duty of the party was to serve the people, the AIADMK statement said, “Whether it is advertising for AIADMK programmes or an invitation for the family functions of party cadre, we lovingly ask that party cadre affectionately stop the placing of banners that inconvenience the public. Party cadre must not indulge in any act that may cause hindrance to the people.”

The statement jointly issued by Party Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam along with Party Co-Coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami added, “We are greatly distressed when we hear the news of people being affected by some actions of a few who are too eager or unaware of consequences or unaware of the rules in place.”

“Therefore, the placing of cutouts, flex boards (banner) for any reason, under any circumstances, should be altogether avoided,” it said urging all party functionaries to follow the diktat.

DMK 

DMK President and Tamil Nadu’s Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin issued a statement on Friday restricting the number of banners to be put up by party cadre to two at the most with due permission. 

“While one or two banners may be kept safely for promotion during public meetings or functions with due permission, I cannot accept the placing (of banners) along roads and streets; I cannot accept the placing (of banners) in a manner that inconveniences vehicle drivers including two-wheelers and people and in a way that causes disaster to people. That needs to be stopped altogether,” read the statement.

It also said, “I wish to reiterate that banners, cutouts, flex boards should not be kept in a manner that inconveniences people. If anyone violates this advisory, strong action would be taken; if it is a programme or meeting in which I am taking part, I will not participate in it.” 

Stalin also blamed the AIADMK's 'banner and cutout culture' for the death of Subhasri. 

AMMK 

AMMK chief and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran issued a statement on Friday blaming the apathy of the authorities that led to Subhasri's death.

He said, “I ask that AMMK functionaries and cadres take this tragic occurrence as a warning and not place banners in the future for any party programmes in such a manner, in the middle of roads or at the corner of footpaths.” 

PMK 

In a tweet on Friday, PMK chief S Ramadoss said, "My orders that flags, cutouts should not be placed for Pattali Makkali Katchi programmes must be followed by PMK functionaries today and everyday. PMK members should not even think of violating this rule.” 

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