The DMK leaders and the party cadres can never be cowed down by the “false cases” filed by the TVK government, Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi has said.

The MP paid a visit to DMK MLA G.V. Markandayan, who has been arrested for his alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and lodged in Palayamkottai Central Prison after being remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday.

Ms. Kanimozhi told presspersons that the MLA was proud to be lodged in Palayamkottai Central Prison where late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had been kept. Hence, neither the DMK cadres nor the leaders could get cowed down by the “fake cases” and consequent arrests as they were prepared to face them.

While the TVK’s Srivaikundam MLA was not even questioned by the police for his alleged role in a harassment case, the DMK MLA had been put behind bars for being critical of the Chief Minister. Former DMK Minister Anita R. Radhakrishnan was arrested on similar charges but the court enlarged him on bail immediately.

The Tamil Nadu police were being used to crush the dissent even for the posts in social media, Ms. Kanimozhi said.

“Like the Delhi police unleashed to crush the students’ protest in the national capital, the Tamil Nadu police are being unleashed to suppress dissent here,” she said.

Asked for her comments on Mr. Markandayan’s reported threat in a public meeting that he would break Mr. Vijay’s bones, the MP said the then DMK government did not arrest the TVK chief even when he “harshly criticised” then Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin.

She said the law and order in Tamil Nadu was in pathetic shape as the crimes against women and children were on the rise.

Published - July 21, 2026 08:23 pm IST