DMK protest: Stalin, Kanimozhi court arrest

The Hindu

Chennai, 4 July 2012: Thousands of DMK men were arrested on Wednesday when they organised picketing across the State as part of the “fill the jail” agitation against foisting of cases and arrest of senior party functionaries by the State government.

 

In Chennai alone, the protest was held in 16 centres and DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin led the agitation in his Kolathur Assembly constituency, while party MP Kanmozhi took part in the protest near Panagal Maligai in Saidapet along with former Mayor Ma. Subramanian. They were detained by the police and held in various marriage halls. Ms. Kanimozhi is being held in the YMCA in Nandanam. Ms Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal also visited the protest venue.

 

It is not clear whether they would be released in the evening or would be remanded to judicial custody. The DMK leadership had already announced that the party men would not seek bail in the event of their remand.

 

Talking to reporters Mr. Stalin said over a lakh of partymen had enlisted themselves to participate in the “fill the jail agitation” against the vindictive politics of the AIADMK government.

 

“The protest is also to highlight various issues including the hike in price of milk, bus fare and electricity tariff that have seriously affected the common man,” Mr. Stalin said.

 

He said though the police resorted to intimidating tactics and spreading news that jails had been kept ready for lodging the DMK men to sabotage the protest, partymen were not cowed down by such threats and had participated in the protest in large numbers.

 

“We hope hereafter the government will change its attitude,” Mr. Stalin said.

 

Ms. Kanimozhi said the protest was the DMK’s answer to the AIADMK government’s vendetta politics.

 

“It has been indulging in vindictive politics from day one in the office and DMK leaders were being arrested without any evidence,” she said.

 

Asked whether the agitation had also provided an opportunity for the DMK for soul searching as many DMK leaders “went too far” in their activities when the party was in power, she said it was not a moment for soul searching for her party.

 

“It is time for soul searching by the press and public,” she said.

 

To a question on whether these protests would have an impact on the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, she said people were suffering because of the increase in the price of milk, power tariff and bus fare and the public would give a fitting reply to the AIADMK in the 2014 elections.