CHENNAI: Save for the BJP, which welcomed the police action, most political parties struck a middle ground in their reactions to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s arrest on Tuesday by the TVK-led government over his alleged derogatory remarks made during the DMK’s Thanjavur protest on Monday.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said Udhayanidhi’s remarks against women deserve the “strongest condemnation” and reiterated that the leader of the Opposition should exercise restraint in his speeches. He, however, questioned the government’s decision to arrest Udhayanidhi on the eve of the presentation of the state’s full budget, saying that the haste had given rise to suspicion of political motives.
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said Udhayanidhi’s “double entendre” was inappropriate. Urging political leaders to avoid making such remarks merely to entertain crowds, the TVK ally leader also appealed to the government not to imprison Udhayanidhi ahead of the Assembly session. He said Udhayanidhi’s participation in the Assembly would strengthen democratic norms and help unite political parties in pressing Tamil Nadu’s case on the Cauvery water dispute.
CPI state secretary M Veerapandian termed Udhayanidhi’s remarks disrespectful towards women. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, too, condemned the remarks, calling for an end to speeches that demean women, while opposing the DMK leader’s arrest.
Calling Udhayanidhi’s remarks “undignified and unacceptable”, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said a person who had served as deputy chief minister should speak responsibly. He questioned the government’s haste in arresting Udhayanidhi, and urged both the ruling party and the opposition to focus on addressing Tamil Nadu’s pressing issues instead of resorting to “political confrontation”.
While commenting that Udhayanidhi should have avoided the controversial remark, MMK president M H Jawahirullah said the DMK leader’s arrest was “excessive” and contrary to democratic norms.
DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth focused solely on the arrest, comparing it to the colonial-era “gag law” used to suppress dissent. MDMK general secretary Vaiko, too, condemned Udhayanidhi’s remarks but stayed away from commenting on the former’s arrest.
Meanwhile, BJP state spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy welcomed Udhayanidhi’s arrest, calling it a bold step by the Tamil Nadu police and the TVK-led government.