Stalin flays arrest of DMK cadre ahead of Guv’s visit

“I strongly condemn the police officials’ action. The fact remains that the DMK has always been staging black-flag protests against the Governor, who keeps visiting various districts and holding talks with district administration officials, as such visits and talks are a gross violation of the Constitution and these visits will deprive the state of autonomy,” he said.

The DMK leader condemned the atrocities of police, who detained DMK members even before the Governor’s visit to Virudhunagar for holding talks with the district administration officials.

“It is not new for the DMK to oppose such visits by the Governor. The party cadre had staged black-flag protests. I wonder why the police officials, who remained silent during previous protests, have now started arresting DMK cadre,” he said, terming the arrest ‘police excess’. He also questioned whether the state government was trying to prove that Tamil Nadu was witnessing ‘Police Rajyam’.

All the parties including the DMK, Congress, Left, VCK and PMK had expressed displeasure over the Governor’s review meetings with district administration officials. They had even held black-flag and other types of protests, as the Governor’s visits could dilute the state’s autonomy.