Stalin alleges Udhayanidhi’s arrest was political diversion ahead of budget session

Chennai, Aug. 4:
DMK president and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin on Tuesday alleged that the arrest of Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was a politically motivated move by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government to divert public attention from its handling of the Cauvery water dispute and prevent the Opposition from effectively participating in the upcoming Assembly session.

In a strongly worded statement, Stalin accused the government of misusing the police machinery to intimidate the Opposition. He alleged that Udhayanidhi’s constitutional status as the Leader of the Opposition had been ignored by taking him from Chennai to Thanjavur for questioning and registering multiple cases against him under various legal provisions.

Stalin claimed the timing of the police action was significant, coming just a day before the State Budget is scheduled to be presented in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 5. He alleged that the government wanted to prevent Udhayanidhi, who enjoys Cabinet rank as Leader of the Opposition, from attending the Budget session.

Referring to the proceedings before the Madras High Court, Stalin noted that the TVK government’s counsel had informed the court that there was no intention to arrest Udhayanidhi and that he would be released after questioning. He questioned why the police chose to take him to Thanjavur instead of conducting the inquiry in Chennai if the objective was merely to question him.

He also criticised the invocation of legal provisions that, according to him, would have made it difficult for Udhayanidhi to obtain bail. Stalin alleged that the government was ultimately forced to retreat due to widespread public protests and said the High Court’s direction to release the Opposition leader on the same day was a setback for the ruling dispensation.

The DMK chief further accused Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of targeting critics of his administration, alleging that several individuals had recently been arrested over social media posts critical of the government and its ministers.