A group of DMK cadre on Tuesday ransacked an Amma Canteen that serves subsidised food here by tearing the name board and removing the picture of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, two days after the party won the election.
As videos of the incident went viral, DMK swung into action and expelled two cadres who went on the rampage, and installed the name board back within hours.
Amma Canteen was established in 2013 by Jayalalithaa as part of an initiative to provide subsidised yet quality food in urban areas. The canteens kept their doors open for thousands of people who visited them during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning at the Amma Canteen in J J Nagar in Mogappair in the city as the DMK men barged into the building and pulled down a portrait of Jayalalithaa from the wall.
The viral video showed the men tearing the name board outside the canteen, and leaving the area. As the video was shared on various social media platforms, the DMK expelled the two cadre – Navasundar and Surendran – from the party. The duo were picked up by the police after the canteen staff filed a police complaint.
DMK MLA Ma Subramanian said party chief Stalin has ordered their expulsion. “They did not hold any posts in the party. However, they have now been expelled,” he said, adding that the name board was re-installed in the same place.
The incident prompted AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam to appeal to Stalin to ensure that action is taken against such individuals.
Published 04 May 2021, 10:33 IST