As it blocked the traffic in the morning, we asked them to move. But they again drew rangoli in public places,” said a senior officer
Chennai: On Sunday the Chennai police have taken into custody around five people, including four women, for drawing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act and anti-National Register of Citizens kolams, or rangoli, in the city’s Besant Nagar area.
The protesters who were drawing the rangoli in the busy Besant Nagar bus stop were asked by the cops to go somewhere else as traffic movement would be obstructed. Thereafter, they decided to go into the road to draw the rangoli which then invited the police action.
“The agitators have asked us to extend permission for this unique protest. As they wanted to draw rangoli in the public places, we denied permission as it would disturb the public. But, they continued drawing rangoli at the Besant Nagar bus stop. As it blocked the traffic in the morning, we asked them to move. But they again drew rangolis in public places,” said a senior officer.
The police first took them into custody in a private marriage hall in the Besant Nagar. According to the police, when two of their advocates visited the police, the police detained them as well and all were kept in the marriage hall.
“As it was an unlawful assembly, we made a preventive arrest. Later, we released them all by afternoon,” the police officer said.
Opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) and its ally Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(MDMK) condemned this incident and criticized the ruling Tamil Nadu government for taking this action against the agitators.
“Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi Palaniswami government’s police have taken into custody the anti-CAA protesters for drawing rangoli in kolam. This is against right provided by the constitution of India,” Stalin tweeted.
Stalin further requested the police to release all the protesters who were detained in the morning.“The Anarchy of AIADMK government has been increasing day by day,” added he.
DMK’s Thoothukkudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi took a jibe at the Police and said it is only today that she learned that drawing rangoli is anti-national.
“I have learned that cleaning doorsteps and drawing rangoli are the act of anti-nationalism. I congratulate Edappadi K Palaniswami for his act to arrest people who had drawn Rangolis as he wants to satisfy his big boss,” said Kanimozhi.
MDMK general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko said that the AIADMK government wants to control the anger of citizens by using cops.
“The state government should go through history as police action cannot control the true anger of the people. Youths, Students, Women and every section of the society is agitating against the CAA and NRC,” Vaiko tweeted.
The five agitators were booked for assembling unlawfully, said police sources. The police did not disclose the identity of those arrested.
Earlier, police booked 10,000 Muslims connected with different Muslim outfits, including Tamil Nadu Thowheeth Jamaath, for holding a huge rally against CAA in Chennai’s Alandur on Saturday. The agitation was carried out despite police denied permission for the same.
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