Chennai: DMK President and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, accusing the Vijay-led TVK government of using police action to divert public attention from its alleged failure to protect the state’s interests in the Cauvery water dispute.
In a strongly worded statement, Stalin said Udhayanidhi Stalin had raised a series of questions over the government’s handling of the Cauvery issue, including its inability to secure adequate water for Tamil Nadu and prevent Karnataka from proceeding with the proposed Mekedatu dam.
He alleged that farmers were suffering while the Chief Minister and his ministers had failed to provide convincing answers to the issues raised by the Opposition.
Stalin claimed the arrest was an attempt to shift focus from the Cauvery dispute.
A police team arrived at Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Chennai residence on Tuesday morning, arrested him and subsequently took him to Thanjavur in connection with a case registered over remarks he allegedly made during a DMK protest there.
Questioning the timing of the action, Stalin pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled to convene on Wednesday for the presentation of the state Budget, alleging that the government deliberately acted a day before the session to prevent Udhayanidhi Stalin, as Leader of the Opposition, from attending the House.
Following protests by DMK cadres across Tamil Nadu, the government informed the Madras High Court that there was no intention to keep Udhayanidhi Stalin under arrest and that he would be released after questioning, Stalin said. He questioned why Udhayanidhi Stalin had to be taken all the way to Thanjavur if the police merely wanted to question him. He also criticised the registration of cases under several sections, including non-bailable provisions.
Stalin welcomed the High Court’s direction to release Udhayanidhi Stalin after questioning, describing the order as a setback to what he termed the TVK government’s authoritarian approach.
Turning his attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Stalin alleged that since assuming office, Vijay had focused more on creating social media content than fulfilling the promises made to the people. “The Chief Minister must now realise the responsibility of his office and begin discharging his duties,” he said. He also demanded the immediate release of DMK workers arrested during protests held across Tamil Nadu against Udhayanidhi Stalin’s arrest, warning that arrogance in governance would ultimately lead to political downfall.
(IANS)
