Objectionable messages and a TVK political slogan targeting the DMK and its leaders appeared on the route display board of a Tamil Nadu government bus, with videos of the incident going viral on social media. The government has now suspended five employees, including drivers and conductors, citing negligence.
The messages on the LED display included derogatory references to DMK leaders and the party. The text included "Kakkoos leader Udhayanidhi" (Toilet leader Udhayanidhi) and "Kolathur Kothu Parotta Stalin uncle", a mocking reference to MK Stalin, linking him to Kolathur and using "kothu parotta (shredded parotta) as a taunt.
Other messages displayed on the board included "Om Sakthi Parasakthi, DMK is an evil Sakthi", a political slogan given out by Vijay earlier. The board also showed, "Where is your father?"
After the video went viral, an enquiry and technical analysis were initiated on the bus that was travelling from Tiruchirappalli to Neyveli.
The inspection found that the motherboard inside the digital display had not been properly secured, and experts said that the messages could be uploaded to the board only through software or a USB pen drive.
During the enquiry, the driver and conductors denied uploading the objectionable messages. Officials suspected that a passenger travelling on the bus might have uploaded them.
However, they also concluded that negligence on the part of the driver and conductors could have contributed to the incident and initiated action against them.
The corporation initiated disciplinary action against five employees who were on duty on different dates between October 9 and 13. They included two drivers -- AP Chithirai Selvan and P Parandhaman -- and three conductors -- Senthamarai Kanavan, R Venkatesan and E Manikandan.
Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation Managing Director S Sridharan said warning circulars had been issued and awareness meetings were being conducted to prevent similar incidents. The corporation is also closely monitoring the matter.
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