Coimbatore : A group of students of Government Arts College here today staged a demonstration in front of the college, seeking immediate arrest of BJP leader H Raja for his remarks on pulling down the statues of Periyar in Tamil Nadu.

Raising slogans against Raja, the about 20 students wanted the police to register a criminal case and lodge him in jail, police said. Separately, a few activists of Aadi Tamilar Peravai, a Dalitoutfit, submitted a petition to City Police Commissioner K.Periaiah seeking to the arrest Raja and detaining him under Goondas Act.

Raja’s frequent utterance against Tamil, its tradition and culture led to controversy and considering the law and order situation it was better to detain him under Goondas, they said in the petition, police said.