CHENNAI: Leaders of opposition parties on Tuesday criticised the TVK govt for the arrests of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) functionary Karthika, who was the party candidate for the Oct 6 Dharapuram bypoll, and five other party members in connection with a case registered during the election campaign.DMK president M K Stalin alleged that the arrests were a diversionary tactic to mask the TVK govt’s inefficiency and shift public attention away from the seizure of a large quantity of synthetic drugs from N Boopalan, a ruling party functionary and election in-charge for the Kilvelur constituency. He accused the TVK govt of attempting to protect party functionaries who had allegedly intimidated journalists and said people linked to gang rapes were roaming freely.“There is a tough competition between TVK and BJP over protecting criminals and arresting protesters, who are fighting for their rights, at night hours. People are well aware of their payasam and fascism drama,” Stalin said, taking a direct swipe at chief minister C Joseph Vijay.Echoing Stalin’s criticism, leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said criticism was unavoidable in politics. It was unjustifiable to arrest a woman political rival from an oppressed section of society for criticising the ruling party and its leader. Udhayanidhi described the arrest as “fascism to the core.” He said the arrest reflected a carbon copy of the BJP’s playbook and urged Vijay not to take any action against Karthika.AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran termed the arrests an act of political animosity. He accused Vijay of using police to settle scores with political rivals instead of curbing rising crimes against women, murders and robberies. Both leaders demanded the immediate release of the NTK functionaries.DMDK leader Premallatha Vijayakanth criticised the govt, saying those who had come to power promising change were resorting to arrests to counter political criticism. “Is considering arrest a solution to counter political criticism justifiable?” she asked.PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss termed the early morning arrests as “unwarranted and condemnable” and urged the authorities concerned to release them immediately.
