On September 12, the life of a 23-year-old techie from Chennai was abruptly ended by an illegal banner. Anger and a sense of dread filled the city as they watched visuals of the vinyl sheet falling on a young Subhasri, causing her to fall under a lorry and to her death.
One thought occupied the mind of every resident who owned a two-wheeler – “That could have been me.”
As outrage over this 'accident' grew into hoarse cries for justice, the Chennai Corporation swung into immediate action, removing illegal banners and flex boards from across the city, in an unprecedented drive. But even as the civic body attempts to prevent further such accidents, the political class in Tamil Nadu seems to believe that its propaganda is more important than the life of civilians.
Corporation official attacked
It was close to noon on Sunday when Executive Engineer K Varadarajan halted his government vehicle at Todd Hunter Road near the YMCA ground. The 52-year-old officer had been clearing banners in the stretch, beginning from Anna Salai ahead of a public meeting to be held by MDMK Chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko at the adjacent ground.
"We noticed that flags had been erected along the road without permission and I immediately brought some Corporation workers to pull it down," Vardarajan tells TNM. "The work was complete and our car had reversed on to the road, when an Innova full of party workers arrived," he adds.
Over the next half an hour, the engineer was allegedly dragged out of his vehicle, as close to 50 men gathered to punch and kick him. There was no room for explanation and the men were well aware that he was from the civic body, says Varadarajan.
"They kept calling other workers to come join them in the attack. I thought I was done for and that I would die there. It was horrific," alleges Varadarajan, recalling the assault. "There had been a few police officers present and I thought they will serve as security. But I think they left to fetch back up to stop the attack. My junior officers too fled to find some help," he adds.
MDMK cadre abusing Chennai Corporation officials on Sunday for removing party flags near YMCA ground. They allegedly dragged the EE from the vehicle and assaulted him. @thenewsminute pic.twitter.com/lApMTbppht
— priyankathirumurthy (@priyankathiru) September 17, 2019
When the local inspector then arrived at the spot, he too was allegedly roughed up by the crowd.
"But he managed to pull me out and take me to the nearest government hospital," says the engineer. "But if he had come any later, I don't know what would have happened to me," he adds.
Varadarajan has sustained severe injuries to his face, back and chest. Following the incident, the police have arrested MDMK's North Chennai Secretary Subramanian and named five others in the FIR. They have been booked under sections 294 (B) (uttering obscenities), 323 ( voluntarily causing hurt), 307 (attempt to murder) and 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Despite the strong allegations however, the MDMK continues to support the rule-breakers over those trying to enforce the rules.
"We have never kept any cut-outs. This banner culture is new. I have already given instructions to not put any banners of me a year back," Vaiko told the media, when asked about the arrests. "This is a false case against our cadre based on instruction from higher officials," he alleged.
But the opposition leader's defense, is hardly surprising, considering that even the ruling party is yet to acknowledge its functionary's role in Subashree's death. The flex board that killed the techie had been put up by AIADMK's former Councillor G Jayagopal, inviting Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for his son's wedding.
And despite, Subhasri’s death, the party has learned no lessons.
AIADMK unremorseful
On Monday morning, it was business as usual for the ruling AIADMK’s cadre which erected four huge cut-outs and several banners for former Chief Minister CN Annadurai’s 111 birth anniversary celebrations. A massive arch balanced by a scaffold announced that the public meeting was hosted on behalf of the Sholinganallur Assembly Constituency. The high-profile party meet which took place at 6 pm even saw the attendance of Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam.
“Four 30-50 feet cutouts of former Chief Ministers Jayalalithaa, MGR, current Chief Minister EPS and Deputy Chief Minister OPS were placed. Once we complained to the police and corporation commissioner, they came and removed the cardboard hoardings in two hours. But did the party workers not know that banners were banned? Why did the leaders not react?” David Manohar, the complainant told TNM.
Elsewhere in the city, banner lights were being erected on every electric post by a former AIADMK councillor and local area leader, for his daughter’s engagement ceremony. The party functionary who has been identified as Ayyanar had put banner lights on all posts across EB road in Chennai’s Mogappair neighbourhood on Monday.
An audio recording released on Monday by Chennai-based anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam shows the conversation that ensued between the complainant and the AIADMK man. The latter can be heard promising to remove the banners after his daughter’s engagement ceremony was over and requesting the complainant to not raise an issue.
DMK cadre defy Stalin’s orders
On Sunday, main opposition party DMK’s workers in Tiruvannamalai had erected banners and an arch to invite youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin. The arches were put up by cadres despite DMK President MK Stalin’s firm order that party men must not erect banners and he personally would not attend an event where illegal banners were placed. Once the controversy around the DMK’s banners gathered steam on social media, with DMK cadre drawing flak, the party workers dismantled the hoardings immediately.
Speaking to TNM about the drive to remove banners, Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation G Prakash points out that a combined effort from residents and officials is required to keep the menace at bay.
"We have removed 6000-7000 banners following Subhasri's death and are continuing to take down more," he says. "But we need to be allowed to do our duty without interference. Otherwise, the morale of our officers will go down."