Slippers hurled at police, effigy burnt as DMK protests Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest | VIDEO

Protests broke out across parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday after Leader of the Opposition and DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin was arrested in connection with a case over his alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha. In Thanjavur, DMK workers threw slippers at police personnel and burned an effigy while protesting his detention. TVK cadres also staged a protest nearby.

Police registered a case against Udhayanidhi under nine sections, including seven provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), one section of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, and one under the Information Technology Act. The charges include allegations that he insulted the modesty of a woman.

The case was registered after the women's wing of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) filed a complaint at the Thanjavur police station, alleging that Udhayanidhi made a double-entendre remark about actor Trisha Krishnan.

Reacting to the arrest, the DMK accused the TVK government of filing a false case after Udhayanidhi criticised the ruling dispensation over the Cauvery issue. The party said he had spoken during a protest on the Cauvery dispute without naming any individual and questioned the allegation that his speech contained obscene or double-entendre remarks.

The opposition party alleged that instead of responding to the issues raised by the Leader of the Opposition, the government had chosen to initiate criminal proceedings against him. It also claimed that leaders associated with the ruling dispensation had themselves made objectionable remarks in the past and questioned their criticism of Udhayanidhi's speech.

The DMK further alleged that the ruling party had not protested over issues such as remarks attributed to BJP leaders on the Mekedatu dam, the arrest of farmers by the Maharashtra Police, or matters relating to the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, but had mobilised protests against Udhayanidhi.

Claiming that the complaint had been filed only a day earlier, the party alleged that the government acted with unusual haste in arresting the Leader of the Opposition. It also referred to another case involving allegations against Srivaikuntam MLA Saravanan, alleging that no similar action had been taken despite accusations made by a complainant.

According to the DMK, the arrest was intended to prevent Udhayanidhi from raising the Cauvery issue during the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session beginning on Wednesday.

The party said arrests would not weaken its resolve, asserting that it had endured "countless arrests, imprisonment, torture, and repression" in the past and would continue its political struggle against what it described as the "fascist TVK government."

Meanwhile, DMK workers also staged protests in other parts of the state. In Theni, party workers led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam demonstrated against Udhayanidhi's arrest, condemning the action taken over the alleged remarks against Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha.

With ANI inputs