Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, has been arrested by the Chennai Police in connection with the remarks made against actress Trisha Krishnan on Monday.
He will be taken to Thanjavur in connection with the case registered over his alleged derogatory remarks.
Shortly after his arrest, Udhayanidhi has done nothing wrong and prepared to face the legal consequences. “I am ready to face the consequences,” CNN-News18 quoted the DMK leader as saying.
Meanwhile, an urgent plea has been filed before the Madras High Court opposing the proposed arrest of Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, the IANS reported.
Justice Ilanthiraiyan agreed to hear the matter at 12 noon and instructed the Government Pleader to inform police not to take any action until the hearing.
The plea alleges that the arrest attempt is aimed at preventing him from participating in Legislative Assembly proceedings. The case was registered based on a complaint that Udhayanidhi Stalin made defamatory remarks against the Chief Minister at a public meeting in Thanjavur regarding the Mekedatu dam issue.
However, the DMK supporters laid down on the road and staged a protest, preventing the vehicle carrying Udhayanidhi from moving and arrested.
During a speech at a Cauvery rally, Stalin targeted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and he was interrupted by members of the crowd chanting “Trisha, Trisha.” He paused, smiled, and made a remark that many interpreted as an indirect reference to actor Trisha.
The actress has been the subject of unverified romance rumours involving Vijay on social media. Even during the elections, political leaders including from the DMK had targeted Trisha.
Many leaders from the BJP have criticised Junior Stalin’s remarks.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said Udhayanidhi’s “double-meaning” comments are “disgusting, obscene, vulgar and shameful”. “Truly, even a rogue or thief who has a mother, wife, daughter would not speak so vulgarly. No mother, wife, or daughter would forgive those who speak like that,” he wrote in a post on X.
BJP leader Khushbu Sundar has slammed Udhayanidhi for his “crass” comments on actress Trisha Krishnan.
In a post on X, Khushbu, who is a close friend of Trisha, has called his speech “crass”, “cheap” and “deeply derogatory” that reflects the “political culture he seems eager to inherit.”
She questioned, “If those with such a mindset aspire to lead a political party and one day govern the state, then God help us. What else can one expect from people who treat abusing, degrading and insulting women as a form of political theatre, basking in the applause, whistles and laughter of their loyal supporters? And who will know this better but me?”