Published Aug 04, 2026 | 4:59 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2026 | 5:07 PM
Udhayanidhi with father and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Stalin insisted that Udhayanidhi’s arrest was vendetta in action and followed a pattern of suppressing dissent…
DMK president MK Stalin on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government was using the police to divert attention from its “failure” to protect Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery water rights and prevent the Mekedatu dam project.
In a statement titled “Arrogance leads to destruction; continued arrogance hastens destruction,” Stalin said the massive participation of farmers, party cadres and the public at the DMK’s protest in Thanjavur reflected the widespread anger across Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery issue. He said Udhayanidhi had merely criticised the government’s handling of the issue and accused the TVK government of responding with an “arbitrary arrest” instead of addressing the allegations.
Stalin questioned the need to take Udhayanidhi to Thanjavur for inquiry when the questioning could have been conducted in Chennai. He also questioned why police had invoked multiple non-bailable provisions if the government’s intention was only to conduct an inquiry, while pointing out that the government later informed the Madras High Court that Udhayanidhi would be released after questioning.
Alleging a pattern of suppressing dissent, Stalin accused the TVK government of targeting critics through arrests since assuming office. He referred to the action taken against DMK MLAs Anitha R Radhakrishnan and Markandeyan, the police response to anti-NEET protests, restrictions on protests by farmers and political organisations, and the denial of permission for a Dravidar Kazhagam campaign against NEET.
The DMK president also criticised political leaders who had condemned Udhayanidhi without verifying the facts, asserting that his son had not made any obscene remarks or referred to anyone by name during his speech. He maintained that false information had been circulated about the speech and said Udhayanidhi was not someone who would deliberately make objectionable remarks.
Stalin urged the government to immediately release all DMK cadres arrested during protests held across Tamil Nadu in support of Udhayanidhi and called on Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to focus on governance and fulfilling election promises instead of targeting political opponents.
A police team led by Joint Commissioner of Police Dr P Vijay Kumar had taken Udhayanidhi into custody from his Neelankarai residence earlier on Tuesday morning.
Udhayanidhi had dismissed the case against him as “forged”.
The remarks that landed the Leader of the Opposition in trouble came during a DMK rally in Thanjavur where Udhayanidhi charged CM Vijay with inaction despite Tamil Nadu farmers not receiving a drop of water.
A section of the protesters who had gathered there started to chant “Trisha, Trisha”. Udhayanidhi’s alleged response to those chants was what sparked the controversy and invited widespread criticism.
The FIR against Udayanidhi invoked BNS Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds such as religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or other grounds and acts prejudicial to harmony); 192 (unlawful assembly with the object of committing rioting); 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace); 79 (words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman); 296(b) (singing, reciting or uttering obscene songs or words in a public place); 61 (criminal conspiracy involving two or more persons to commit an offence); and 351(2) (criminal intimidation involving threats of death or grievous hurt).
Ironically, the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998, whose Section 4 was also invoked against Udhayanidhi, was passed when his grandfather and DMK’s late patriarch, M Karunanidhi, was the Chief Minister.
MK Stalin then went on to amend the Act and lend it more teeth.
The Madras High Court had ordered in the afternoon that Udhayanidhi should be released on station bail on Tuesday itself.
Advocate General Vijay Narayan had told the court during his submission that the government has no intention of remanding Udhayanidhi after questioning and would be releasing the Leader of the Opposition on police bail.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
