BJP wants memorial for 1998 bomb blast victims

 Led by former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, the members of BJP, RSS, VHP and Hindu Munnani began a march from Bharathi Park Road holding a 200 feet long national flag. They also held placards in support of CAA.

 The party workers came through Mettupalayam Road, RS Puram and Thiruvengadam Road to reach DB Road, where they paid homage in remembrance of those killed in the bomb blast. A group of Bharat Sena activists tonsured and performed rituals for the departed souls in the bomb blast at Perur Padithurai.

The serial blasts on February 14, 1998 that took place when the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, LK Advani visited Coimbatore for an election campaign killed nearly 56 people and hundreds were injured. 

 Later speaking to media, Pon Radhakrishnan said that a memorial should be built at RS Puram in remembrance of the 56 persons killed on that day. 

“The State government should consider erecting a memorial in the place where the bomb blast happened. I thank the government for granting permission to hold the rally as it was denied until last year,” he said.

The BJP leader also took a dig at DMK leader MK Stalin, saying that the anti-CAA protests were instigated by opposition parties. “No one will believe that Stalin has garnered 2 crore signatures from public against CAA,” he said. 

Security was tightened for the event with more than 1,000 police personnel being deployed at various locations to prevent any untoward incidents and traffic diversions were enforced in view of the rally.