Consumer activist says that if there are no posters in public places and properties, then the city will be visible.
Consumer activist says that if there are no posters in public places and properties, then the city will be visible.
High tension prevailed on Avinashi Road near Government Polytechnic College on Thursday night as BJP cadres protested and removed DMK posters from at least three pillars.
The police removed 30 protesters till 11.45 pm. Due to the protest, the police had to divert traffic flow towards the airport junction via Kodisia Road and VIP Road.
A dispute broke out between the BJP and the DMK on Wednesday night over encroachment on the pillars of the elevated corridor on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore after supporters of the former were stopped from pasting posters.
The BJP cadre tried to paste the posters on the pillars near Kodisia Road and DMK workers allegedly did not allow them to put up the posters. The crowd dispersed after talks with senior police officials.
BJP functionaries alleged that posters printed on DMK-sponsored flex board sheets have been put up on pillars from the airport junction to the GKNM hospital junction for the past several weeks. The posters depict the major schemes of the DMK government, their achievements and new schemes.
BJP Coimbatore district president Balaji Uthamramasamy said the DMK failed to make its point in the all-party meeting called by the district collector on July 28.
“The meeting was called after we had demanded the collector to remove the poster. Although the collector gave 10 days to remove the poster, the DMK did not do so. We further demanded the collector to remove the poster, but no action was taken. Former MLA N. DMK workers led by Karthik stopped BJP workers from putting up posters on Wednesday night.
DMK sources said the posters were pasted on the pillars ahead of the scheduled visit of Chief Minister MK Stalin on July 15. However, the visit was canceled after Mr Stalin tested positive for COVID-19. The party’s plan was to retain the same posters till the scheduled visit of Mr. Stalin on 23 August.
“We have not installed flex boards on the sides of the roads posing a danger to motorists. The party is not even using the flag poles on the roadside to welcome the leaders. The posters on the pillars are about the welfare schemes of the government. This is not causing any inconvenience to anyone. The BJP is deliberately trying to create law and order tension by pasting its posters on us,” Mr. Karthik said.
Mr. Uthamramasamy said the BJP would wait till Thursday night and the cadre would “clean” the pillars if the DMK or the police did not remove the posters.
“The BJP is ready for a no-poster policy as the party itself is known for launching the Swachh Bharat Mission,” he said.
The posters pasted by the DMK also included warnings painted on pillars by the Highways Department warning motorists about the ongoing elevated corridor works.
The police have brought the matter to the notice of the Collector and the Corporation Commissioner.
Consumer rights activist K. Kathirmathion said the city would look cleaner if public places and property were devoid of posters. He said, ‘Political parties should take a united decision in this matter. The ruling party should set an example by not pasting posters. Only then can the government implement a no-poster policy.