CHENNAI: Protests erupted in parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday after DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was detained by Chennai Police in connection with a case over his alleged remarks made during a rally on the Cauvery water dispute.In the latest development, DMK cadres took to the streets in Pudukkottai, where police detained several party workers, including Pudukkottai MLA V Muthuraja, during the demonstration.Similarly, in Karur, DMK members, including Aravakurchi MLA R Elango, were also detained during protests against Udhayanidhi Stalin’s detention.In Pudukkottai district’s Alangudi, DMK MLA Meyyanathan Siva was also detained by police during the protests.The protest was organised against Udhayanidhi’s detention from his residence in Neelankarai.Visuals from Pudukkottai showed DMK workers raising slogans and marching in protest before police intervened and detained the demonstrators.Earlier on Tuesday, a police team led by Joint Commissioner of Police Dr P Vijayakumar took Udhayanidhi into custody from his residence for questioning after an FIR was registered against him over his allegedly objectionable remarks made at a DMK rally in Thanjavur.The detention came even as Udhayanidhi approached the Madras high court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending arrest in the case.When the matter was mentioned before Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan, the court agreed to hear the urgent plea and orally directed the police not to precipitate the issue until the petition was taken up.The controversy stems from a speech delivered by Udhayanidhi at a rally in Thanjavur on Monday during a protest over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.Opposition parties alleged that he made objectionable remarks targeting Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay.Based on a complaint filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Thanjavur police registered an FIR against Udhayanidhi under charges of promoting enmity between groups, provisions of the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.TVK also moved the National Commission for Women (NCW), alleging that Udhayanidhi’s remarks were “vulgar”, “objectifying” and “sexually suggestive”.The party sought legal action, an unconditional public apology and intervention by the commission.TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar alleged that the remarks objectified women, undermined their dignity and lowered the standards of political discourse.
