Shankar is not by a long shot the first person to be arrested for comments on social media. Even harmless memes have landed people in jail.
YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar (Supplied)
The arrest of journalist and Youtuber Achimuthu Shankar, known as “Savukku” Shankar has drawn attention to how governments irrespective of their political ideology approach the freedom of speech. For a party that has constantly accused the BJP of throttling freedom, including the freedom of speech, the DMK in Tamil Nadu showed remarkable willingness to use the same playbook to curb dissent.