Leaders Across Party Lines React to Udhayanidhi Stalin's Arrest
Leaders from the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, VCK, BJP and other parties reacted to Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest, with many opposing the timing of the action while also criticising his controversial remarks.
Leaders of various parties reacted to the arrest of Udhayanidhi Stalin for his speech at the DMK rally in Thanjavur on Monday to protest against Karnataka’s recalcitrance over the release of water in River Cauvery for Tamil Nadu and its insistence on constructing a dam across the river at Mekedatu.
DMK president M K Stalin said the ruling TVK government had no clue about Tamil Nadu's rights to the Cauvery and had no backbone to stop the Mekedatu dam, was a reflection of the unrest in the entire State.
‘The incompetent dummy Chief Minister has not been able to bring Cauvery water, nor has he been able to speak up to stop the Mekedatu dam, farmers are shedding tears in pain, but ministers are shedding tears after watching a movie starring the Chief Minister, and a joker cabinet has been formed in Tamil Nadu." The rulers have not been able to answer this so far.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the filing of a case against the Leader of the Opposition on the eve of the Budget presentation was condemnable. While the derogatory remarks of Udhayanidhi Stalin was unacceptable, the police should file a case against him. But the desperation to put him behind bars betray some other motive, he said.
The TVK government wanted to conduct the Assembly proceedings without the presence of senior opposition leaders, he said.
DMK general secretary Duraimurugn said the Leader of the Opposition could not be intimidated by ‘the fascist arrest’ carried out on false charges on the eve of the Budget present. The TVK government was panicky seeing the participation of farmers in the DMK protest because it had ignored the demands of farmers, he said.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said Udhayanidhi Stalin’s speech at Thanjavur was unacceptable and disrespectful as someone who had held the post of deputy Chief Minister should learn how to speak in a dignified manner.
At the same time there was no need to arrest him in such a hurry even after the Madras High court advised the police to refrain from arresting him till noon. There was no need to make the arrest when the Assembly session was on.
While VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan did not agree with the double entendre remark of Udhayanidhi Stalin, he opposed that arrest during the Assembly session. Others who criticized the arrest and also the remarks of Udhayanidhi Stalin included Vanathi Srinivasan of the BJP.
IUML leader K M Khader Mohideen criticized Udayanidhi Stalin and said that the people of Tamil Nadu would not accept it.
