Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 20 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Monday condemned the arrest of Vilathikulam MLA Markandeyan over his alleged remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, accusing the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of targeting political opponents and curbing democratic rights.
In a post on X, Stalin alleged that the TVK government was functioning without democratic values and was using arrests to divert attention from issues concerning the government.
He further stated that former ministers, MLAs and social media supporters who highlighted the government’s shortcomings were being “targeted” by the ruling dispensation.
Referring to recent court observations, he claimed that the judiciary had questioned the inclusion of unrelated criminal charges even in defamation cases.
Staling also alleged that Markandeyan had been denied access to his lawyer and supporters following his arrest and claimed that those attempting to provide him with medicines were prevented from meeting him. It further alleged that his basic legal and human rights had been violated.
Questioning the government’s actions, the DMK president alleged that while it had failed to act in other cases, it was swift to arrest political opponents over critical remarks.
He also urged the police to act in accordance with the law and their conscience rather than carrying out what it termed “unlawful orders” of those in power.
Markandeyan was taken into custody after allegedly making controversial remarks against Chief Minister Vijay. Police are continuing their inquiry into the matter.
DMK leader TKS Elangovan also reacted to the arrest of Markandeyan, saying the party would examine whether leaders and legislators of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had made similar remarks against DMK leaders and would take legal action if necessary.
Elangovan told ANI, “Nobody is permitted to comment on others. That is fair. If they have arrested our MLA, we are looking at what the TVK ministers and MLA have spoken about our leader. And if they have spoken ill, we are going to give a police complaint and go to court.”
He said the party would see how many TVK legislators and ministers would face similar action.
“Let us see how many MLAs and ministers are arrested for talking like this,” he said.
Targeting the ruling party, Elangovan alleged that its leaders lacked political experience and were trying to display their authority.
“There’s a bunch of people who don’t know any politics. They want to show their power, that’s all… That is TVK. People will very soon come to know about what TVK is,” he added. (ANI)
Related reading
