Strongly criticising the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu, BJP Mahila Morcha National President Vanathi Srinivasan has asked how a party can claim to be liberalist and claim that it’s treating women if it is undertaking works of the dark ages (i.e., suppression of protest and detaining opposition leaders before the date of their protest). On Tuesday, speaking with reporters, Srinivasan said that the state government was denying permission for lawful agitations and even such agitations that take place in designated protest areas are denied permission as it’s posing a worrying new trend.
“The DMK government has been following a troubling pattern in the last few months. The government does not allow for political parties when they plan agitations on issues related to law and order or public grievances, even at locations where the agitations are allowed as per permission,” Srinivasan said. She also said that BJP leaders were permitted to meet at their homes and arrested on their way to their declared protest site.
The state’s BJP, which is a component of the central BJP, had been planning a demonstration outside the Tasmac HQ (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation headquarters) to protest proposals of the state government relating to the state’s liquor policies and how that impacts law enforcement and public welfare. Srinivasan said authorities have a right to detain or arrest leaders at the protest site if need be, but also that preemptive detention of leaders in their homes is an attempt to stifle dissent.
Adding on, she said, “This is clear attempt by the DMK government to shut down any voice in opposition.”
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai also threw in his weight with these allegations and also criticized the DMK government, adding to the claims. He has accused certain police officials of acting as ‘stooges’ of the ruling party and of behaving in an ‘utterly shameful’ way by using their powers in an ‘utterly shameful way’ to persecute opposition leaders and prevent lawful demonstrations.
The BJP leadership has urged that the DMK government not curb democratic rights by curbing the democratic right of free speech and that political parties can be heard by mainstream political parties on democratic grounds through peaceful and democratic protests.
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