After another defamation case was filed by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa against DMK President M Karunanidhi and Ananda Vikatan for publishing articles which are “maligning” her, Karunanidhi said on Thursday that the actions taken by the government amounted to stifling opposition leaders and media organizations, according to TOI.

He added that he was ready to any number of cases against him.

He said that the ruling party AIADMK was always carrying out defamatory campaigns against opposition leaders through its mouthpiece Namathu MGR but the DMK leader never bothered to file defamation cases.

Karunanidhi said that Vikatan had written a series of article when the DMK government was in power but they never charged the magazine with defamation cases. If AIADMK feels that the content is untrue then they should give clarification for the same. Instead, he said that the party is using police department to threaten the distributors and retailers from selling the magazine. Two DMK functionaries were arrest in TIrunelveli district for distributing the Ananda Viketan copies.

He said that AIADMK is using government resources to file cases against opposition leaders.

In a media statement, DMK treasurer MK Stalin said that it is an Emergency-like situation existing in the state pointing out the regressive actions of the government. He added that if the aim of the party is to silence the voice of the opposition party with such defamation charges then she is mistaken and the DMK and its leaders would not to be cowed, according to TOI.