Chennai: We The Leaders founder K Annamalai on Tuesday condemned the TVK govt over the arrest of a volunteer associated with his organisation for responding to allegedly abusive remarks by a TVK functionary.In a post on X, Annamalai said the TVK functionary had abused the volunteer’s family. “The fact that a We The Leaders volunteer has been booked and arrested for responding to a TVK functionary who criticised his family in abusive language is worrying. More than 25 people with differing views have been booked in the past month over their disagreements with or criticism of TVK members on social media,” he said.Annamalai said monitoring personal abuse and speech that crossed the line was necessary, but cases and arrests should not be used to suppress criticism of the govt or the ruling party. “Trying to suppress every voice that criticises the govt and the ruling party through cases and arrests is not healthy for democracy,” the former BJP leader said.He also cautioned officials against acting arbitrarily to please chief minister C Joseph Vijay. “You (the chief minister) should not allow those in power to act arbitrarily with the intention of pleasing you,” he said.Annamalai said the DMK govt had faced political consequences after those in power ignored criticism and opposing views. “Opposing views and criticism are natural parts of democracy,” he said, urging Vijay to immediately stop the practice of filing cases and making arrests over criticism and ensure that democratic voices were given due space.
