Arappor Iyakkam condemned MK Stalin government’s refusal to permit protests against alleged Adani Group corruption, accusing him and police officer Arun IPS of undermining the constitution
Published Jan 05, 2025 | 5:32 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 05, 2025 | 5:32 PM
Arappor Iyakkam condemns MK Stalin’s decision, alleges threats from DMK members
A condemnation meeting was held by Arappor Iyakkam, a social activist group, in response to Tamil Nadu police’s decision to deny permission for protests against alleged corruption involving the Adani Group.
The group strongly criticised the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government’s stance, with members declaring, “India is not for sale! The Constitution is not for sale!”. They further accused Stalin and state police officer Arun IPS of undermining the Constitution.
Jayaraman Venkatesan, the convener of Arappor Iyakkam, also raised alarm over threats to his life from individuals linked to the ruling DMK.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Venkatesan said, “Such threats to my life by DMK men will not deter us from fighting against corruption.” He also pointed out that a similar threat made by a DMK member in Tiruppur had not been acted upon despite his complaint.
Such threats to my life by DMK men will not deter us from fighting against Corruption. Already no action seen in a similar threat by DMK wing tiruppur guy even after my complaint! We are in this knowing the big thieves we are fighting against. pic.twitter.com/HbhXjhkqGB
— Jayaram Venkatesan (@JayaramArappor) January 4, 2025
Venkatesan’s remarks underscore the ongoing tension between Arappor Iyakkam and the Tamil Nadu government, as the activist group vowed to continue its battle against corruption despite the mounting pressure and intimidation.
Recent protests at Valluvarkottam were stopped by Stalin’s government. Jayaraman claimed that it’s all linked to Adani. He alleged that Arun Kumar and Stalin are not allowing people to practice their fundamental right to question and protest against the wrong doings.
நாளை ஜனவரி 5 காலை 9.30 மணிக்கு அறப்போர் அலுவலகத்தில் சந்திப்போம்!
Arappor Office Location – https://t.co/I9e9sdWefr pic.twitter.com/1gCsAEshqy— Arappor Iyakkam (@Arappor) January 4, 2025
Protesters are demanding that the state government roll back the recent increase in electricity tariffs, which they claim disproportionately impacts ordinary citizens.
They argue that the financial difficulties faced by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) should not be passed on to the public, especially when the company’s losses are allegedly linked to corrupt practices involving private companies like Adani.
A key demand of the protesters is for the Tamil Nadu government to file an FIR against Adani group for its alleged involvement in a ₹3,000 crore coal import scam involving TANGEDCO.
According to the allegations, Adani group is accused of supplying substandard coal to TANGEDCO, falsely invoicing it as high-quality coal, and inflating prices.
This not only resulted in financial losses for TANGEDCO but also contributed to higher electricity production costs, which were ultimately passed on to consumers through increased tariffs.
Protesters are also urging the central government to investigate Adani’s coal import practices nationwide, claiming that such corrupt activities are widespread across the energy sector.
In addition to the demand for accountability over the coal import scam, protesters are calling for an end to what they describe as “favoritism” shown by the central government towards Adani.
They accuse the company of using political influence to establish monopolies in key infrastructure sectors such as ports, airports, cement, coal imports, and energy supply. The activists argue that Adani’s control over these critical sectors is stifling competition and harming public and economic interests.
The protests also highlight ongoing concerns over allegations of bribery by Adani, particularly in relation to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
A U.S. indictment has accused Adani and his associates of bribing Indian government officials to secure favourable procurement terms for solar energy projects.
Protesters are calling for both state and central governments to launch thorough investigations into these bribery claims and ensure that the integrity of the country’s energy sector is protected.
Protesters have also raised concerns about the alleged misuse of central investigative agencies such as the CBI, ED, and IT to facilitate corporate takeovers by Adani.
The activists accuse the government of using these agencies to shield Adani from scrutiny and enable his growing monopoly across multiple sectors.
The group is demanding an immediate cessation of such practices, which they claim are undermining the rule of law and facilitating corporate exploitation.
The protests are not just about holding Adani accountable but also about addressing larger systemic issues of corporate malfeasance and government complicity.
Protesters argue that Adani’s alleged monopolisation of critical sectors—such as ports, airports, energy, and cement—poses a threat to fair competition and public welfare.
They have likened Adani’s business practices to the monopolistic control of the East India Company during colonial times, warning that this could lead to economic exploitation and the erosion of public resources.
Jayaraman Venkatesan told South First, that the issue is not about targeting a private company but about holding the government accountable for enabling corrupt and monopolistic practices.
He emphasised the need to protect public resources, ensure fair competition, and prevent economic exploitation by powerful corporations.
“The goal is not to attack a private company but to demand accountability from the government that has enabled these practices,” Venkatesan stated.
“We must act now to prevent the monopolisation of our economy and protect our people from further exploitation,” he said.
Venkatesan informed that the protest was supposed to be happening in a particular spot in vallurkottam, but they were not allowed by the police. Instead they held it at the Arrapor office, with about 150 people in attendance.
Jayaram Venkatesan had submitted a request to the authorities, seeking permission to observe a one-day hunger fast from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM on 5 January, 2025, near Valluvar Kottam in Nungambakkam. The protest was planned to raise awareness and call for an investigation into alleged scams involving the Adani Group.
According to authorities, they duly considered the request, but received reliable intelligence suggesting that a larger number of people than anticipated, might participate in the hunger fast. Concerns were raised regarding the potential for traffic congestion and public disturbances, which could lead to law and order problems in the area.
Given these concerns, the request was ultimately rejected. The authorities cited the possibility of increased public disruption and safety risks as the primary reasons for not granting permission for the protest.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Nitika Shivani)
