Hindu outfit leader's Ayudha puja post on FB creates flutter

COIMBATORE: A photo posted on Facebook showing Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) state president Arjun Sampath performing Ayudha puja with two air guns, a few knives and swords at his house on Ukkadam-Sundakkamuthur Bypass Road created a flutter in the city on Tuesday. The Indian National League (INL) lodged a complaint against the HMK leader and demanded his arrest.The photo was subsequently removed from Sampath's Facebook page.
On Monday, the HMK leader celebrated Ayudha Puja by performing a special puja with two air guns, a few knives and swords. He then posted a photo of the puja on his Facebook page with a caption reading: "Photos of Ayudha puja and Saraswathi puja held at my house from 12pm to 2pm."
Seeing the post, INL state president J Abdul Rahim lodged a complaint with Chennai city police commissioner S George against Arjun Sampath. In his complaint, Abdul Rahim said his party was aware that the Ayudha puja was a Hindu festival and it had no objection to it. But the complainant questioned Arjun Sampath's act of performing the puja with weapons, including knives and swords. He also sought the arrest of the HMK leader and also an inquiry into whether he holds licence for the guns.
When contacted, Arjun Sampath told TOI that the air guns belonged to his son, who practises shooting. "We don't need to obtain any permission or licence to use air guns. They belong to my son and he is preparing for a shooting competition. I celebrated Ayudha puja in my house. So, no one can raise questions against me," he said.
The HMK leader alleged that a few Muslim and Tamil outfits were against the Ayudha puja and hence creating issues. Sampath, however, removed the photo from his Facebook page after he received a lot of negative comments.