Chennai, March 28 The DMK on Saturday responded to TVK chief Vijay's claim that the police were preventing his campaign at the behest of the ruling party, stating that matters related to granting permission for public meetings fall under the purview of the Election Commission.
"Why would he then hold the DMK responsible?" asked senior party leader and Health Minister Ma Subramanian.
"Whether it's a public meeting or a meeting at a street corner, only the Election Commission grants permission. You need to apply for permission 48 hours in advance, otherwise it will be rejected. In that case, how can the DMK government be held responsible?" he told reporters here.
Vijay had claimed on Friday that the state administration and the police were preventing his party's election campaign in Chennai, which he described as a "fascist attack on democracy". He had blamed the ruling DMK for the refusal of permission.
He had alleged that certain officials were acting as "agents of the ruling party" to suppress the democratic rights of a new political movement.
