Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Police in Chennai and Kallakurichi have booked three DMK leaders over alleged derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar during statewide protests on September 12.
DMK MP A Raja, Harbour MLA PK Sekarbabu and Rishivandhiyam MLA Vasantham K Karthikeyan face separate cases over speeches delivered at the demonstrations.
The DMK organised the protests after Vijay made remarks in the Assembly about party president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin’s detention under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency.
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Raja was booked under six sections for allegedly using obscene language and making defamatory remarks intended to disturb public peace. Other charges relate to promoting hostility between groups on the grounds of religion, race or language and disrupting public order.
During the protest, Raja allegedly made remarks questioning Law Minister Nirmal Kumar’s paternity. He later withdrew them following a veiled rebuke from DMK deputy general secretary and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
In a separate case, North Beach police booked Sekarbabu over his alleged remarks against CM Vijay at a protest in Chennai.
Kallakurichi police also booked Karthikeyan under four sections for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Vijay during a demonstration in the district.
WHAT TRIGGERED THE ROW
The row began after Vijay attacked the DMK in the Assembly, accusing the former government of corruption and challenging its “Mr Clean” image.
Citing Enforcement Directorate documents and the Sarkaria Commission’s findings, Vijay targeted Stalin and his son, former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. He alleged that contractors executing state-funded infrastructure projects had paid kickbacks disguised as party funds.
Vijay also took aim at the DMK’s repeated references to Stalin’s detention under MISA. “If MISA is brought into everything and everyone who has seen MISA is mentioned, we don’t know what to do,” Vijay said.
During his speech, he placed his palm against his jaw, a gesture critics interpreted as mocking the injury Stalin suffered after allegedly being assaulted in custody during the Emergency.
Responding in a video message, Stalin urged Vijay to uphold the dignity of the Chief Minister’s office. “Brother Vijay, what you said is true. There is no lie in it,” Stalin said, referring to his imprisonment under MISA.
The Assembly confrontation subsequently spilled onto the streets, with the DMK staging protests across Tamil Nadu on September 12. Speeches made at those demonstrations have now led to cases against Raja, Sekarbabu and Karthikeyan.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
