Pro-Tamil outfits flay police for detaining cadre on Marina

“In a democratic country, people have every right to express their opinions. It was a mere candle light vigil to remember the victims of the worst genocide of the century. Police action is totally unwarranted. To impose blanket ban on conduct of meetings on Marina itself is an aberration of the democratic spirit,” said MLA MH Jawahirullah of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi. 

VCK leader Ravikumar said that there was no need for the arrest, and the members wanted only to observe a vigil. 

“Even in Sri Lanka, they allow to observe the vigil by their people to remember their departed souls. Whereas in Tamil Nadu, the government is taking a hard-line against the members of May 17 Movement and others who wanted to observe the vigil. If Tamils were not allowed here, where else would they be able to hold such meetings,” Mallai Sathya, MDMK leader, asked. 

Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader Panruti Velmurgan too had condemned the arrest, besides blaming the ruling Edappadi K Palanisamy government for acting as a proxy to the BJP. 

Last week, Chennai police denied permission for the gathering citing prohibitory orders under section 41 of Madras City Police Act, which debars any assembly on Marina Beach other than recreation purposes.

Unrelenting, the May 17 Movement had declared that it would go ahead with the event as planned. The outfit has planned to take the event to a much local level to assert their right to pay homage for the deceased. 

As many as 17 members including, Thirumurugan Gandhi, chief coordinator of the movement, and Dyson, chief coordinator, Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi, were arrested under provisions of the IPC, Criminal Law Amendment Act, and the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act on Sunday night.