The Tamil Nadu BJP unit on Sunday accused Chief Minister MK Stalin of hypocrisy in his stance on press freedom, following his support for Tamil magazine Vikatan, which the BJP claims has defamed the country.
BJP state spokesperson ANS Prasad strongly criticized Stalin’s position, calling it a case of “the Devil quoting the scriptures.” He alleged that the DMK-led government has been intolerant of criticism, cracking down on dissenting voices on social media while conveniently championing press freedom when politically beneficial.
“The BJP takes strong exception to Stalin’s sanctimonious posturing, considering his government’s history of stifling free speech. He speaks of press freedom, but his government has been relentless in targeting critics, often resorting to arrests and intimidation,” Prasad said in a statement.
He further noted that despite court warnings, the DMK regime has continued to suppress dissent, making Stalin’s sudden advocacy for press freedom appear insincere.
Prasad also condemned Vikatan’s controversial cartoon, which depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi handcuffed in front of the US President, calling it an “unforgivable insult” to the office of the Prime Minister.
“While the media has the right to criticize the government, no one has the right to defame the country,” Prasad asserted. He reiterated that the BJP upholds press freedom, even when facing harsh criticism, but will not tolerate attempts to undermine India’s democratic institutions.
The remarks underscore the growing tensions between the DMK and BJP over press freedom and political narratives in Tamil Nadu.