R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JAN 2
The Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Koottamaippu headed by the founder president of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) T. Velmurugan has demanded immediate release of the Tamil scholar Nellai Kannan and also demanded that the arrest of BJP National Secretary H. Raja here on Thursday.
Addressing reporters, Velmurugan condemned the arrest of Nellai Kannan on the basis of a complaints lodged by BJP leaders and sought his immediate release. Nellai Kannan’s remarks on Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were humorous and it had nothing serious, he said.
Condemning the state government’s lethargy in taking action against H. Raja, who his continuously indulge in creating religious and communal unrest, Velmurugan urged immediate arrest of the BJP leader, if not, the leaders of Vazhvurimai Koottamaippu will stage a massive protest in Marina at the same place where BJP had organised its protest. When asked when the Koottamaippu will stage the stir, he said “it would be held suddenly and will be a spontaneous one’’.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader and MP Thol Thirumavalavan said that Nellai Kannan’s speech at the anti-CAA protest organised by SDP in Tiruneveli early this week was taken wrongly by the BJP and its allies, it was not a provoking speech but humorous and it had no inner agenda.
He also questioned the TN government’s bonhomie with H. Raja.
Communist Party of India State Secretary Mutharasan wondered why the state police and government are maintaining mute silence, when he uttered obnoxious remarks against judiciary and the ruling AIADMK government in the state.
Suba Veerapandian, President of Dravidar Iyakka Thamizhar Peravai and leaders of Muslim outfits were present.
Nellai Kannan gets 12-day judicial remand
Meanwhile, the 75-year-old Tamil scholar Nellai Kannan has been remanded in judicial custody till January 13 for his incendiary comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He is now currently lodged in Central Prison in Salem.
NSS Nellai Kannan, 75, was picked by the district police from a guest house in Perambalur on Wednesday. Soon after the news spread, the members of BJP gathered before the guest house and raised slogans against him. He was then taken to a government hospital for health check-up and was produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday.
Chennai police book BJP leaders for staging protest at Marina
Meanwhile, the Chennai police have booked senior BJP leaders H Raja, Pon Radhakrishnan, CP Radhakrishnan, L Ganesan and 300 others for staging a protest at Marina Beach on Wednesday. The leaders had staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue demanding the arrest of Tamil orator Nellai Kannan over his controversial speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The leaders were booked under Indian Penal Code Section 143 (Punishment — Whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both), Section 145 (Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse) and Section 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint).
The leaders had made their way to the beach, where protests have been banned by the Madras High Court, from their party office in T Nagar on Wednesday. Sitting on a dharna, the group raised slogans urging police to arrest Kannan immediately for his remarks at the SDPI meeting on Sunday
Hours later, writer Nellai Kannan was arrested by a police team in Perambalur district in connection with complaints against him by the BJP and the ruling AIADMK.
Based on a complaint lodged by BJP District President (Tirunelveli) Daya Shankar on Monday, an FIR had been registered against Nellai Kannan. He was booked under sections 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505(1)(b) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility), and 505 (2) (statements which create or promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code.
