Political parties seek release of Tamil orator ‘Nellai’ Kannan

Tamil scholar and orator Nellai Kannan being taken from Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital to district court complex on Thursday. “Why has Seeman (Naam Tamilar Katchi founder) not been arrested so far for claiming that they only killed [former Prime Minister] Rajiv Gandhi? But when comments are being made against Rajiv Gandhi, there is no action,” Mr. Alagiri said referring to Mr. Kannan’s arrest on Wednesday night. “Besides, the fact that he being a Hindu exposed them in front of Muslims is what is irritating them,” he charged and said it was clear that the AIADMK had become slaves of the BJP by arresting the orator late at night and demanded the cases be withdrawn against him immediately. Jawahirullah questioned the speed at which Mr. Kannan was arrested and asked why others who made inflammatory speeches are still roaming free. “Why didn’t the police arrest Nainar Nagendran (BJP leader) when he called for lyricist Vairamuthu’s head? What about BJP national general secretary H. Raja who recently said if students throw stones from inside university campuses, bombs will be thrown from outside? Mahendran who claimed boys went to protests just to look at girls, or Dairy Development Minister Rajenthra Bhaalaji who said Congress MP Manickam Tagore should be shot and actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s tongue should be cut, have not been arrested. Subscription Benefits Include Today's Paper Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list. *Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print.