PASUMPON/MADURAI: The 103rd jayanthi celebration and 48th guru puja of Muthuramalinga Thevar passed off peacefully at his native village Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district on Saturday, amid unprecedented security. But police resorted to mild lathicharge around the Thevar statue in Madurai in the evening to chase away unruly mobs. Members of community organisations, hundreds of people, leaders of political parties and Ministers thronged the Thevar memorial. Gandhi Meenal, caretaker, and members of Thevar family performed a special puja in the early hours.
M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister, placed a wreath on the samadhi on behalf of the State government and the DMK. He was accompanied by R. Avudaiappan, Assembly Speaker, and Ministers I. Periasamy, S. Thangavelan, Thangam Thennarasu, K.R. Periakaruppan and A. Tamilarasi, Member of Parliament J.K Rithish Kumar and Collector T.N. Hariharan.
In a chat with reporters, Mr. Stalin said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had written to the Centre to name the Madurai airport after Muthuramalinga Thevar.
AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa paid homage to the leader. She was accompanied by her friend Sasikala and former Ministers O. Panneerselvam and K.A. Sengottaiyan. Speaking to reporters, Ms. Jayalalithaa said a demand to provide gold plating (thanga kavasam) to the memorial was made during her visit. The AIADMK would bear the expenses for providing the cover. The Congress was represented by K.V. Thangkabalu,, NSV. Chitthan, MP, and S. Thirunavukarasar. MDMK general secretary Vaiko; PMK president G. K. Mani and State president of BJP Pon. Radhakrishnan and L. Suthish of DMDK also paid tributes.
At least 15 buses were damaged in stone-pelting in Madurai and police resorted to lathicharge to chase away unruly mobs near the Thevar statue at the Goripalayam junction. A 14-year-old boy was killed in an accident while he was dangling from a share autorickshaw.
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