Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar justifies the arrest of DMK Vilathikulam MLA G.V. Markandayan

Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar said on Monday that DMK Vilathikulam MLA G.V. Markandayan was arrested because he spoke in “a defamatory and threatening manner” against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Addressing journalists in Chennai, he said that under DMK rule, the Goondas Act was invoked against anyone who had posted opinions against the government on social media. “In this case, the MLA spoke in a threatening manner, saying that he would break hands. If someone speaks in this manner, legal action is bound to be taken. When the DMK was in power, how many people were booked under the Goondas Act for a single tweet? If an MLA goes to the extent of issuing a death threat to the Chief Minister, it is definitely a law and order issue. If members of the public or our party members hear this, won’t it lead to a scuffle,” he asked.