Chennai, May 19: Congress workers in different parts of Tamil Nadu today requested AICC president Sonia Gandhi to reverse her decision and agree to become the Prime Minister. As a mark of protest on her refusal to take up the Prime Minister's post, Congress workers in the city set ablaze effigies of BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharati near Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the party headquarters here, while over 100 Congressmen observed a day's fast at Coimbatore.
Police said in north Chennai, 17 Congress workers, who had set ablaze the effigies of Swaraj and Bharati, were "removed".
In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, former MP, Era Anbarasu said "though millions of our countrymen voted for the Congress to seat you as the Prime Minister of our country, you have belied the mandate of our people. Your refusal has inflicted untold injury not only in my heart but also bleeding injury in the hearts of millions of people", he said. A Coimbatore report said over 100 Congress workers began a one-day fast in the city. The fast was led by Kovai Thangam, MLA, who is also the DCC president.
Meanwhile, a resolution adopted at an emergency meeting of the TNCC, said people were "disappointed" by the decision of Sonia Gandhi. It was necessary for Sonia Gandhi to become the Prime Minister to strengthen the secular foundation of the country and speed up the welfare of the poor. Hence, Sonia Gandhi should reconsider her decision, it said.
Bureau Report