* Warns TVK government of repercussions
Chennai, July 21:
DMK chief M. K. Stalin on Monday strongly condemned the arrest of DMK MLA G.V. Markandayan, alleging that the police acted unlawfully to please the ruling establishment and warning of “consequences” if the department failed to act according to law and conscience.
Accusing the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of targeting Opposition voices, Stalin said leaders and supporters who highlight shortcomings of the administration were being selectively harassed. He alleged that while action was delayed in cases involving a sitting minister and an alleged gang sexual assault of a ruling party member, police were swift in proceeding against critics over political remarks.
Raising sharp questions over governance, Stalin asked whether the State was being run under the “rule of law or the rule of Satan.” He described the present administration as a “take diversion model” government and accused it of lacking democratic values.
The DMK chief further alleged that police had been consistently targeting former ministers, MLAs and party supporters, and claimed that Markandayan was denied basic human rights during the course of his arrest. He also questioned the addition of unrelated penal provisions in defamation cases, noting that courts had recently pulled up the government on the issue.
Joining the criticism, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said the TVK-led government was misusing the police machinery against DMK functionaries. In a post on X, she demanded the immediate release of Markandayan and asserted that the party would deliver a fitting political response to what she termed an abuse of power.