Former chief minister M K Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin (L-R)
CHENNAI: Former chief minister M K Stalin came down heavily on the TVK government over the arrest of Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, accusing it of displaying “arrogance” and saying such arrogance would hasten its downfall.After Udhayanidhi was arrested by the police, Stalin held a meeting with senior DMK leaders at the party headquarters in Chennai. He then issued a statement alleging that the arrest was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the government’s “failure” to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests in the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.“Arrogance leads to destruction, and continued arrogance only hastens that destruction. The arrest of the Leader of Opposition was intended to divert attention from the government’s failures on the Cauvery issue,” Stalin said.The remarks came a day after police detained Udhayanidhi following his speech at the DMK’s protest in Thanjavur against the TVK government over the Cauvery dispute and the proposed Mekedatu dam. Police registered a case against him under multiple sections and took him to Thanjavur for inquiry before the Madras high court directed that he be released the same day.Stalin alleged that the government acted only after failing to counter the criticism levelled by Udhayanidhi at the protest, where the latter accused the administration of being incapable of securing Cauvery water for Tamil Nadu or preventing the Mekedatu project. He further claimed that the timing of the police action, on the eve of the Assembly session and the presentation of the state budget, was aimed at preventing the Leader of Opposition from attending the House.Questioning the need to shift Udhayanidhi to Thanjavur for inquiry, Stalin said the investigation could have been conducted in Chennai if it had been carried out in good faith. He alleged that the state invoked multiple non-bailable provisions only to intimidate the opposition before being forced to soften its stand following public protests and the high court’s intervention.Stalin also defended Udhayanidhi against criticism over his speech, saying the former deputy chief minister had neither used obscene language nor targeted any individual. He expressed disappointment that some political leaders condemned Udhayanidhi without verifying what had actually been said and maintained that even if Udhayanidhi had made an unintended remark, he was someone who would readily apologise.Stalin also demanded the immediate release of DMK cadres arrested during protests held across the state.
