Not every arrest under MISA was owing to entirely political reasons, claims Durai Vaiko
MDMK MP Durai Vaiko questioned whether the imprisonment of DMK leader M.K. Stalin during the Emergency was purely political, suggesting other factors may have been involved. He also proposed making Tiruchi the second capital of Tamil Nadu to reduce congestion in Chennai.
Why it matters
The comments touch on sensitive historical political narratives in Tamil Nadu and propose significant administrative restructuring.
MDMK principal secretary and Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko on Friday claimed though DMK president M.K. Stalin had been imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency there was a question mark on whether it was entirely due to political reasons.
“Many Opposition leaders, including those from Communist and Dravidian parties, were arrested under the oppressive MISA in Tamil Nadu, but not all were detained entirely for political reasons. Some were arrested on other charges such as corruption and disturbing public peace, under the Act,” he told reporters in Pudukottai.
Answering a specific query, Mr. Durai Vaiko claimed: “It is true that Mr. Stalin was arrested during MISA period, but a big question mark remains on whether his arrest was cent per cent due to political reasons.”
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