CHENNAI: DMK leader and former chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday criticised the BJP-led Union government over its crackdown on students and young people protesting against the Election Commission and demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Comparing the situation to the period of Emergency rule, Stalin said, “The scenes unfolding in the capital bring back painful memories of the Emergency that I lived through.”In a social media post, Stalin demanded the immediate release of all political leaders, students and young protesters detained in Delhi and across the country.Taking aim at the ruling TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Stalin accused the state administration of acting as a proxy for the Centre. He also condemned the deployment of police against students protesting peacefully in Tamil Nadu.“The Union govt must immediately end its assault on the youth who are peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest. ‘Dissent is not a crime, and democracy cannot survive by silencing those who rise to defend it,’” Stalin posted, tagging several prominent online accounts and activists.Reiterating his demand, the DMK chief said the removal of the chief election commissioner was essential to restoring public faith in Indian democracy.The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was “non-negotiable”, he asserted. He added that the damage caused to the institutional framework of the Election Commission of India (ECI) must be undone and its independence and integrity restored.Meanwhile, DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticised the state government over the police action against students protesting peacefully at Besant Nagar.Calling Vijay’s government an incapable “sofa model” administration, Udhayanidhi questioned whose pressure the “dummy CM” was giving in to by suppressing democratic protests, when young people across the country, including members of TVK’s own political alliance, were supporting the protesters.By arresting young people who were politically aware and self-respecting, the chief minister had proved himself to be an undeclared “slave to Delhi”, Udhayanidhi said. He demanded the immediate release of all detained protesters.
