CHENNAI: The ‘Mandee’ online food commodity advertisement featuring popular film actor Vijay Sethupathi took a serious turn in Chennai on November 5th 2019 as small retail traders and vendors tried to stage protest and gherao his office here.
Hundreds of retail traders and shopkeepers turned up today in support of the protest call given by traders federation -‘Tamil Nadu Anaithu Vanigar Sangagalin Peramaippu – urging actor Vijay Sethupathi to withdraw from the ‘Mandee’ advertisement since it will affect the business and livelihood of petty shopkeepers, small retail shops and traders. State President Kolathur Ravi led the demonstration today.
(VIDEO) POLICE DETAIN TRADERS:
To take part in the protest, members of the traders Federation and a large number of retailers gathered at Rajendran Street in Alwar Thirunagar in Chennai at 11 a.m. on November 5th 2019.
Mr.Arunachala Moorthy, Chennai Mandal president of the traders’ federation, who was one among those detained by the police, told ‘Lotus Times‘ news website today that they were not even allowed to enter the street where Vijay Sethupathi’s office is located in Alwar Thirunagar.
“The police are doing over action in this issue and our demand to the film actor is very genuine and our protest is for the welfare of small traders and shops…..We are detained and taken to a marriage hall in Valasaravakkam here,” Mr.Arunachala Moorthy has said.
“There was no response either from actor Vijay Sethupathi or his office staff. We strongly condemn the action taken by Chennai police today. They did not allow us to speak to anybody. Our State office-bearers and district office-bearers and our members from Chennai mandal have been detained by police,” he added.
