CHENNAI: Amid Opposition outcry over the detention of student activist Valarmathi under the Goondas Act, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday defended the action, saying she had been instigating uprising against the Centre and the State. He also issued a strict warning that the Act would be slapped if law and order was destabilised.
Responding to Leader of Opposition M K Stalin, who raised the issue in the Assembly, the CM said the Goondas Act was invoked since she continued to indulge in activities aimed at destablising public tranquility despite six cases pending. “Despite registering cases against her, without mending her ways, she continued to indulge in activities that destabilised public peace and tranquility. So, she was detained under the Goondas Act by the Salem City Police Commissioner on July 17,” he told the House.
Palaniswami said the Goondas Act was not invoked against anyone without looking into the antecedents. “How could law and order be maintained if protests were held 6-7 times in the name of democracy?” he said. “In a democracy, (people) have a right to protest. Yet, if they tried to instigate the public and destabilise law and order, Goondas Act will definitely be invoked.”
He accused the student activist of having indulged in campaigning for Neduvasal stir and instigated the public against the Centre and the State by distributing pamphlets on July 12, leading to her arrest by the Kannankurichy police (Salem), along with Jayanthi who was later released by the court.