CHENNAI: The TVK authorities on Wednesday introduced the withdrawal of circumstances filed in opposition to farmers and lecturers for peaceable protests through the earlier regime, however the transfer rapidly triggered a political showdown within the Meeting, with the opposition questioning its intent and demanding comparable aid for protesters booked after the brand new authorities took workplace.Making the announcement beneath Rule 110, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay stated circumstances registered between Could 2021 and April 2026 in opposition to farmers and lecturers who staged peaceable protests over livelihood, rights and welfare points can be withdrawn.Whereas allies and several other opposition members welcomed the transfer, DMK whip E V Velu alleged that the announcement had an “ulterior motive”. Former minister M R Okay Panneerselvam requested whether or not the federal government would additionally withdraw circumstances filed previously 100 days in opposition to farmers protesting for crop loans.Speaker J C D Prabhakar intervened, rejecting Velu’s objection and saying the CM had made the announcement throughout the Meeting guidelines.The CM stated his authorities was dedicated to defending freedom of expression and the proper to protest throughout the framework of the regulation.The beneficiaries embrace farmers booked for opposing the SIPCOT industrial property undertaking in Tiruvannamalai, the place some protesters had been additionally detained beneath the Goondas Act, and those that participated within the extended agitation in opposition to the proposed Parandur airport over considerations in regards to the lack of farmland, water our bodies and livelihoods.Academics booked whereas protesting for his or her calls for and rights can even get aid.Calling the choice a humanitarian and democratic measure, Vijay stated withdrawing the circumstances would strengthen democratic rights and construct belief between the federal government and the folks.Chief of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, nonetheless, challenged PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna’s declare that this was the primary time a Tamil Nadu authorities had withdrawn circumstances in opposition to farmers. He stated the earlier DMK regime had withdrawn greater than 5,000 circumstances filed in opposition to farmers and activists who protested in opposition to hydrocarbon and methane tasks, the Kudankulam nuclear plant, CAA and the farm legal guidelines.Taking a swipe on the ruling aspect, Udhayanidhi pointed to sitting minister Vanniarasu, who was booked through the Kudankulam protests, as a “standing testimony” to the earlier authorities’s resolution to withdraw protest-related circumstances.
