BJP calls for strike in TN to protest leader's killing

The BJP leader was killed near his office in Salem on Friday night by unknown assailants

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu has called for a state wide general strike on Monday to protest the murder of its general secretary V. Ramesh Friday night, said a party official on Saturday.

Ramesh, a practicing chartered accountant who was a soft spoken BJP leader, was killed near his office in Salem Friday night by unknown assailants.

Condemning the killing, BJP state leader Pon Radhakrishnan told the news agency: "The party has called for a state wide general strike Monday. Ramesh was a patriot and did not have any professional enemies. He is the fourth Hindu leader to be killed within a year."

Radhakrishnan said Ramesh had escaped an earlier attack on his life and his car was burnt.

"There is a concerted attack on Hindu leaders in the state and the government is not taking any serious action to put an end to this. Last month Hindu Munnani state secretary Vellaiayappan was murdered in the state," Radhakrishnan added.

He said there was no policeman at the murder spot when he visited it at around 4.30-5 a.m. Saturday.

"The murder evidence could have been erased," he remarked.

Radhakrishnan said BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu will be coming to Salem in the afternoon to pay his respects.

"Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, party leader Arun Jaitely and others spoke to me and asked about the details," Radhakrishnan said.

Ramesh was twice the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu BJP and was also a trustee at the Chennai Port Trust.

He is survived by his wife Subha and daughter who studies in 11th standard.