Political parties condemn MLA Karunaas’ arrest

The early morning arrest of Thiruvadanai MLA S Karunaas on Sunday has come in for severe criticism by political parties.

Leaders of several parties have condemned the police for arresting Karunaas while not initiating legal action against BJP national secretary leader H Raja for his controversial remarks. DMK president MK Stalin said that both leaders have attracted the same charges with their provocative speeches. But Raja has not been arrested yet while Karunaas was arrested hastily, he said.

Other leaders, including AMMK founder TTV Dhinarakan, DMDK leader Vijayakanth, state congress chief S Thirunavukkarasar and MDMK leader Vaiko have also condemned the police for arresting Karunaas and leaving Raja untouched. However BJP leaders Pon Radhakrishnan, Tamilisai Sounderarajan and L Ganesan have defended the arrest.

In a statement on Sunday, Stalin said that the elected representatives should exercise restraint in their speeches and that such representatives have the responsibility of upholding peace and harmony. “But even after Karunaas expressed regret over his speech, arresting him makes it clear that there was double standards in enforcement of law,” he said.

Though cases were booked in several police stations against H Raja for ‘threatening to break Periyar statues, demeaning the high court and state police and making derogatory comments about the family members of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department staff’ he has not been arrested yet.

In the case of S Ve Shekar too, the police is reluctant to arrest even after the supreme court refused to grant a stay on his arrest, Stalin said. “I believe the state government has arrested Karunaas only to protect Koovathur secrets from spilling out,” he said.

AMMK leader Dhinakaran while cautioning that those in public life should exercise restraint, alleged that action against Karunaas and inaction on Raja exposed the prejudice of the state government. Vaiko said both Karunaas and Raja deserve to be arrested. “Police should arrest Raja too,” he said.

Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan justified the arrest saying nobody can escape from law after making provocative speeches that might lead to social unrest. “Not even a word of what Karunaas spoke can be accepted,” he said.

Tamilisai Sounderarajan said law has taken its own course on Karunaas. “Raja would also face the charges on him legally,” she said.