The Tamil Nadu police had arrested BJP state President L Murugan and other senior leaders on Friday for defying the government's orders and going ahead with the saffron party's plan of conducting the 'Vetrivel Yatra', which the party has planned to conduct for a month from November 6 to December 6 by covering the six adobes (Aaru Padai Veedu) of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu, ahead of the state assembly polls.

The police department of Tirutanni, Thiruvallur district had arrested BJP President Murugan and senior party leaders including Annamalai on Friday when the leaders were driving towards Tirutanni Murugan temple, which is one of the six adobes of the Hindu God, to start the 'Vetrivel Yatra' campaign, which the government had denied permission by citing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The government had warned that strict actions would be taken against the defiers who violate the order. Giving a shock to the BJP, the ruling ADMK government had informed the Madras High court on Thursday that the government had denied permission for the BJP to conduct its yatra. The government has cited the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 spread in the state for denying the permission and said that it's not an appropriate time for conducting the large scale gatherings. 

The High Court bench comprised of Chief Justice AP Sahi and Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy had noted the statement and said that the state government can issue further orders on whether the Vetrivel Yatra can be permitted. After the denial from the state government, the Tamil Nadu BJP has said it would consult with the national leadership on conducting its campaign. 

Amid the rejection from the state government, the Tamil Nadu BJP had decided to defy the ban and the party had gathered hundreds of supporters in Chennai and state president L Murugan had started driving to Tirutanni by wearing a saffron-colored shirt and he was seen carrying a divine javelin (Vel) associated with Lord Murugan while hundreds of the party supporters had followed him by car and by foot. 

Murugan was seen standing atop a caravan while some of BJP leaders including H Raja were seen standing next to him. Greeted by the supporters, he drove to Tirutanni to start the campaign. He was also joined by senior BJP leaders including Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, National Secretary CT Ravi, and former IPS Officer Annamalai, who recently joined the party.  

When the BJP leaders were on their way to Tirutanni, the procession was stopped by police in Poonamallee, Chennai and after the BJP leaders held an altercation with the police, the police had allowed just five vehicles with around 20 people including main leaders to visit the temple. However, when the BJP had defied the order, the saffron party leaders faced fresh action as the police had arrested the leaders including Murugan and Annamalai and they were put into the police van and taken into detention. 

Speaking to the reporters in Koyambedu, Chennai, Murugan said, "I want to pray. I have a right to worship. The constitution of India guarantees that and that's why I'm traveling to Tiruttani" and hinted that the state government's denial of permission would not stop them. L Murugan said that the party had started the campaign under the guidance of Lord Murugan and stated that the Lord had provided them the blessing and permission and added that the Vel Yatra will tear the mask of all anti-culture and anti-Tamil people in the state. 

Taking to social media, Murugan said that the BJP won't violate the law but the party won't remain idle if someone hurt Hindus, Hindu gods, Tamil gods, Tamil Culture, and Tamil language. BJP leader H Raja had flayed the ADMK government for its decision of reopening the schools during the pandemic while denying permission for the yatra. He claimed that the party would stage protests if it was not given permission to carry out the campaign, through which the party eyes to cover the Hindu vote bank ahead of the election.