Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Aug 4: DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging that the Vijay-led TVK government was using police action to divert attention from its handling of the Cauvery water dispute.

In a statement, Stalin said Udhayanidhi Stalin had raised several questions over the government's response to the Cauvery issue, including its alleged failure to secure adequate water allocation for Tamil Nadu and prevent Karnataka from moving ahead with the proposed Mekedatu dam project.

He alleged that farmers were facing hardships while the Chief Minister and his ministers had failed to provide satisfactory answers on the concerns raised by the Opposition.

Stalin claimed that the arrest was aimed at shifting public attention away from the Cauvery dispute.

A police team arrived at Udhayanidhi Stalin's Chennai residence on Tuesday morning, arrested him and took him to Thanjavur in connection with a case registered over remarks he allegedly made during a DMK protest in the district.

Questioning the timing of the arrest, Stalin said the Tamil Nadu Assembly was scheduled to meet on Wednesday for the presentation of the state Budget and alleged that the action was intended to prevent Udhayanidhi Stalin, in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition, from attending the session.

Stalin said that after protests by DMK workers across the state, the government informed the Madras High Court that there was no intention to keep Udhayanidhi Stalin in custody and that he would be released after questioning.

He questioned why Udhayanidhi was taken to Thanjavur if the police only intended to question him and criticised the registration of cases under multiple sections, including non-bailable provisions.

Welcoming the High Court's direction to release Udhayanidhi Stalin after questioning, the DMK chief described it as a setback to what he called the TVK government's "authoritarian approach".

Targeting Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Stalin alleged that since coming to power, the government had focused more on creating social media content than fulfilling electoral promises.

"The Chief Minister must now realise the responsibility of his office and begin discharging his duties," Stalin said.

He also demanded the immediate release of DMK workers arrested during protests against Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest and warned that what he described as arrogance in governance would eventually lead to political consequences.