In a move widely criticized as an attempt to silence opposition voices, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu has been accused of filing a false case against A. Ashvathaman, an advocate and state secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This incident is part of a broader pattern of arrests targeting critics of the ruling party, its leaders, and minorities.
Ashvathaman, whose anticipatory bail hearing is scheduled for July 29 in the Madras High Court, is currently in hiding to avoid arrest. The police claim they are actively searching for him.
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The controversy dates back to the 1995 RDX bomb blast in Nagore, Nagapattinam District, orchestrated by Islamic terrorists. The blast claimed the life of Thangammal, the wife of BJP worker Thanga Muthu Krishnan, who was killed when she opened a bomb concealed in a Ramayana book intended for her husband. This tragic event left their four daughters motherless and has since been commemorated annually in Nagore.
Recently, efforts have been made to obstruct the remembrance events. Last year, police arrested the chief guests participating in the commemoration, citing potential communal unrest. This year, BJP State President Annamaalai designated Ashvathaman to lead the event. Initially, the DMK-controlled police denied permission for the event, but court intervention eventually granted it.
The remembrance event on July 7 was attended by various leaders of Hindu organizations. Despite the court’s directive for police to grant permission and provide protection, the police arrested the chief guest, Ashvathaman, immediately after the event. The police lodged an FIR at 8:00 PM on July 23, implicating all speakers from the July 7 event, including Ashvathaman, in a move seen as a clear attempt to suppress dissent against terrorism.
Muslim communities in Nagore, a region with a significant Muslim population and home to a famous Dargah, reportedly pressured the police to deny permission for the event, fearing it would incite communal clashes. This claim has been dismissed by critics as a repetitive and unfounded justification used by the police.
Shiva Sena State Secretary Thanga Muthukrishnan sought the intervention of the Madras High Court, which directed the police to allow the event and ensure security. Despite the court’s orders, the police’s subsequent actions suggest a deliberate strategy to intimidate and silence those who speak against terrorism.
Ashvathaman, undeterred by the potential for arrest, attended the event as the chief guest. His participation and the subsequent police action have sparked outrage among BJP supporters and civil rights activists, who view this as an egregious abuse of power by the DMK government.
In his statement, Ashvathaman expressed his resolve to continue fighting for justice, despite the personal risk involved. “The DMK’s tactics will not silence us. We will continue to speak out against terrorism and for the rights of our people,” he said.
Tamil Nadu police have filed charges against nine individuals, including A Ashvathaman, Shiva Sena’s Thanga Muthukrishnan, and Hindu outfit leader Kudanthai Bala. The charges stem from accusations that they made speeches hurting the sentiments of the minority community during a remembrance event for Thangammal, who was killed in a terrorist attack in 1995.
The police claim that the speeches made by these individuals were inflammatory and detrimental to communal harmony, invoking five sections of the law. The other individuals charged are Vijayakrishnan, Kannadasan, Sivasubramanian, Prabhu, Rajguru, and Selvam. The event, held on July 7, marked the anniversary of Thangammal’s death, who was killed by a bomb sent by Islamic terrorists.
Thanga Muthukrishnan defended the speeches, stating, “We have not spoken anything that would hurt the sentiments of minority communities. The police report itself mentions that Muslim terrorists sent the postal bomb that killed Thangammal. We cited police records and mentioned terrorist Abubucker Siddiq’s involvement. Asvathaman also repeated similar facts. Police have termed this as hurting religious sentiments. We have not said anything beyond this.”
Hindu leaders have criticized the DMK government and police, accusing them of bias and selective enforcement. They argue that while crimes and murders are on the rise in Tamil Nadu, the police are focusing on arresting individuals who criticize the Chief Minister, his family, and the government on social media. They also pointed out that complaints made by Hindu groups against leaders of DMK, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and minority communities for hate speech and disparaging remarks about Hindu customs and deities are often ignored or not investigated thoroughly.
“The police act in a biased manner,” a Hindu leader said. “While they arrest those who criticize the DMK and its allies, they turn a blind eye to hate speeches made against Hindu gods and leaders of BJP and RSS.”
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