Comrades await Kovan's release, plan reception

It is a victory for those people in Tamil Nadu whose feelings against liquor found resonance in Kovan's songs, say supporters of the folk singer who got bail after being in jail for more than two weeks. His organisation Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam is planning a reception for Kovan on Tuesday.
Police charged S Sivadas alias Kovan with sedition for songs critical wof the government's liquor policy.
"Our songs have always tried to capture the angst of the people of Tamil Nadu who were victims of the ill-effects of liquor. With Kovan, we raised the pitch for prohibition. Kovan coming out on bail is the next step in ouar battle against the bottle," said M Sathya, 44, a member of the central art committee of Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, the organization of which Kovan is a member.
Kovan, 52, a senior activist in the central art committee, was arrested from his house at Aravanoor in Trichy in the early hours on October 30 by a cybercrime team of police from Chennai for inflammatory remarks against chief minister J Jayalalithaa in two songs composed by his team. The songs hit hard against liquor sale through Tasmac.
His son Charuvagan, 24, an aspiring lawyer, said the court-granted bail for his father after days of police and judicial custody was not a complete victory.
"I thank all the supporters and former judge Markandeya Katju for his letter to the President of India seeking the release of my father. We will keep fighting for our goal of a liquor-free state," said Charuvagan. Kovan's wife K Jayalakshmi, 47, has also been an active member of the organisation. Unsatisfied by the bail, the organisation now plans to move the Madras high court seeking quashing of the case against Kovan. "We will continue our protests until all liquors shops in the state are closed," said Trichy district secretary of Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam M Jeeva who has planned a reception for Kovan in Chennai on Tuesday.