Chennai: Around 150 members of a cultural group have been arrested in Chennai today for protesting against the arrest of Tamil Folk Singer Kovan on sedition charges over a song criticizing Tami Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Police say the art and cultural group - "People's Power" - did not have permission to protest.
The singer was arrested on October 30 near Trichy for his song against the AIADMK government's policy on liquor sales. It also shows caricatures of Ms Jayalalithaa serving liquor.
Regional Organiser of People's Power, Vetrivel said, "There's nothing seditious about the video. We have every right to lampoon the Chief Minister and the state's policies on liquor. In fact the state is working against people by selling liquor. There should be sedition charges against the government only."
According to the police the song's lyrics personally attack the chief minister and are extremely critical of the state's liquor policy and could incite enmity between groups.
Siva, another member of the organisation, said: "This is an attack on freedom of expression. The album only documents the hardship and various ways in which liquor sale ruins families in Tamil Nadu. Where is the question of conspiring against the state?"
All opposition parties in the state, including DMDK Chief Karunanidhi and actor Vijayakanth have condemned the arrest.
However, the ruling AIADMK has said the singer's arrest was a decision taken by the police and the party has nothing to do it.
Tamil Nadu government earned a revenue of 27,000 crore through sale of liquor last year.
Police say the art and cultural group - "People's Power" - did not have permission to protest.
The singer was arrested on October 30 near Trichy for his song against the AIADMK government's policy on liquor sales. It also shows caricatures of Ms Jayalalithaa serving liquor.
According to the police the song's lyrics personally attack the chief minister and are extremely critical of the state's liquor policy and could incite enmity between groups.
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All opposition parties in the state, including DMDK Chief Karunanidhi and actor Vijayakanth have condemned the arrest.
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Tamil Nadu government earned a revenue of 27,000 crore through sale of liquor last year.
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