Valarmathi, a student who is spearheading the Neduvasal protests is arrested under the Goonda Act. All she did was distribute pamphlets and urged people to join the movement. Parties are accusing the state government of dictatorship.
Valarmathi, who was remanded for distributing pamphlets to students and urging them to support the Neduvasal protests, is now detained under the Goonda Act.
Political leaders condemn detention:
DMK working president M. K. Stalin:
Persons who said that they will assure the safety of Kathiramangalam villagers have now arrested a girl who fought in a democratic manner. They did not even consider the fact that she is a student. The detention of Valarmathi under the Goonda Act is highly condemnable.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko:
Central government is functioning with the motive to completely destroy agriculture in the Cauvery delta areas. Without any prominent leader to stir the protest, people are protesting on their own accord against the Methane and Hydrocarbon projects.
Right when people are demanding the shutdown of companies like ONGC, the central government is showing special interest on implementing many such projects.
The central government is unleashing repression against the protestors thinking that they could bring them under their control. Arresting those who raise voice against the government under Goonda Act is equal to strangling the democracy.
CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan:
Valarmathi has been compared with the naxalites and the man who hurled a slipper at a central minister. It is highly condemnable.
Is the state government bowing down to the demands of the central government? Or did it get the courage to overrule the democracy?. The detention of Valarmathi is against the Constitution guaranteed right to propagate and freedom of expression. She should be released immediately.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M.H. Jawahirullah:
Valarmathi fought in favour of people by campaigning against the depletion of nature, but the Tamil Nadu police have detained her under Goonda Act saying that she was involved in brainwashing people to join the naxalite group. It is outrageous and highly condemnable.
Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi leader T.Velmurugan:
Instead of solving the problems of people, the state government is imposing dictatorship.
