Chennai:
Tamil folk singer Kovan, who was arrested last week on sedition charges for criticising Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, remained defiant in face of the police action against him.
Emerging from the court, Kovan sang a few lines of his controversial song against liquor. Speaking for the first time after his arrest, he said, "I will not stop singing and writing. The anguish of people over the liquor menace is a lot more severe than what my lyrics reflect."
He said his songs speak against the system and not any individual. The police have asked for his custody. The local court where he was produced today directed the defence to file its response tomorrow to the prosecution's plea and ordered the police to produce Kovan at 4 PM.
The 54 year old folk singer was arrested last week on allegations of mocking chief minister J Jayalalithaa and slamming her government's liquor policy. His video album demands closure of liquor shops in the state. His lyrics, the police have charged, are defamatory, a personal attack on the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and could incite enmity between communities.
Gym Milton, counsel for the accused, said, "Sedition is a colonial law which is being misused. They have already interrogated him and taken all details about the video, editors, singers and all. We feel there's no need for (seeking his) custody."
Opposition parties across the spectrum and human rights' groups have criticised the arrest which has reignited the prohibition debate in the state. Liquor sales brought Rs 27000 crore to the government treasury last year. Most political parties including the principal opposition DMK have promised prohibition if elected to power in 2016. The ruling AIADMK however contends it would pave the way for sale of illicit liquor.