Congress backs action against DMK MLA over remarks on Vijay

Chennai, July 4 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President Manickam Tagore has strongly criticised DMK MLA Anitha R. Radhakrishnan over his alleged defamatory remarks against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, saying political leaders must maintain decency in public discourse.

His comments came even as the Tiruchendur legislator secured bail around midnight on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, hours after his arrest in the case.

Radhakrishnan, a senior DMK leader and MLA from Tiruchendur, was arrested by Thoothukudi police while he was visiting Attur, about 23 km from Thoothukudi, after the Madras High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea earlier on Friday.

He was escorted to a waiting police vehicle, questioned by investigators and later taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for a medical examination before being produced before the Tiruchendur court.

The case stems from a speech Radhakrishnan delivered at a public meeting on June 20, in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Vijay.

Following a complaint lodged by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), police registered cases against him under Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and Section 353(2) (statements conducing to public mischief).

Speaking to reporters after paying tributes at the memorial of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj in Chennai, Tagore said Radhakrishnan appeared to have forgotten that the DMK was no longer in power after the 2026 Assembly election.

“Is he aware of the present political situation? Doesn’t he realise that the DMK has lost power?” the Congress MP asked.

Tagore further stated that there should be some decency in speaking and in attacking political leaders, and expressed hope that, after this, the opposition would learn to speak and refrain from making derogatory remarks.

Earlier in the day, while rejecting Radhakrishnan’s anticipatory bail plea, Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan of the Madras High Court orally observed that a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly should not have made such statements.

However, when Radhakrishnan was produced before the Tiruchendur court late on Friday, a heated exchange took place between the prosecution and the defence over the circumstances leading to his arrest.

Counsel for the MLA argued that there was no need for an immediate arrest as Radhakrishnan had already informed the police that he would appear for questioning on July 10 in response to the summons. The defence also alleged that the arrest had been carried out without following due procedure.

Opposing the plea, the government counsel submitted that the MLA had not accepted the earlier summons and that the arrest was made as a precautionary measure in view of possible law and order concerns.

Questioning the prosecution’s stand, the defence asked what law-and-order problem would arise from a legislator going out in public. After hearing both sides, Judge Chidambaram granted bail to Radhakrishnan shortly before midnight.

Tagore also criticised Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar over his recent review meeting with government officials in Madurai, alleging that the Governor was overstepping his constitutional role.

“It is unfortunate that the Governor is indulging in such activities. If he wants to do Goa-like politics, he should go there. I request him not to exceed his constitutional limits,” the TNCC chief said.

–IANS

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