BJP defies AIADMK to launch Vetri Vel Yatra; raises questions about the alliance

Chennai: The BJP went ahead and defied the ruling AIADMK and launched its "Vetri Vel Yatra" on Friday which led to police detaining the state BJP President L Murugan along with around 100 party workers for carrying out the event without police permission.

This comes after the state government had informed the Madras High Court on Thursday that the month-long yatra should not be permitted given the prevailing pandemic. The BJP on their part, refuted these claims and said that the right to worship is a constitutional right and began the event, as planned, on Friday at the Thiruttani Murugan Temple in Thiruvallur district, which is a neighbouring district to Chennai.

The larger question being raised is whether the cracks in the AIADMK-BJP alliance are intensifying as this is not the first time that the two parties have been at loggerheads. In September, the state government denied the BJP permission for idol immersion during Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations which is believed to have soured ties.

The Vetri Vel Yatra (Victorious Spear March) is in honour of Lord Murugan known for his "Vel" or spear. The BJP had said the yatra was being carried out to expose the "anti-Hindu" narrative and "minority appeasement" in the state. It was scheduled to end on December 6, which marks the day the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.

BJP’s national general secretary CT Ravi and former national secretary H Raja too participated in the event on Friday. “Lord Murugan has given us permission,” CT Ravi said before leaving Chennai.

At the Chennai-Thiruvallur border, however, the police stopped the vehicles of the BJP workers and allowed only the BJP chief and a select few to pass through and warned that they would detain any BJP leaders or workers associating with the event at Thiruvallur.