Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) Working President MK Stalin was detained on Saturday along with 400 party workers following a black flag protest outside the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.
The party members were protesting the detainment of over 200 DMK workers in Namakkal district on Friday. The cadre had raised black flags during the visit of Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit to the district on Friday.
Speaking to reporters outside the Governor's residence in Chennai, MK Stalin said, "Suddenly, when the Governor went to Namakkal yesterday, DMK district cadre and DMK members showed black flags and they were all arrested. Overnight, they were shunted in the Salem Central Prison.”
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He also added that the central message of the protest was not to call for the release of the DMK cadre.
“The Governor's arrogance is condemnable. We can no longer tolerate his interference in the affairs of the state. That's the basis for our protest today at the Raj Bhavan. Yesterday based on the Governor's order the arrest took place. It is laughable. We want to convey this to the people," he slammed.
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The Governor was scheduled to take part in a cleaning activity at the Namakkal bus stand on Friday. However, he he left the bus stand in a huff after he realised that the cleaning mission at the bus stand was staged.
As per a report in The Hindu, Governor Purohit was there to inaugurate the 'Mission Open Defecation Free Namakkal' awareness vehicle that is expected to tour the district and encourage the use and construction of toilets.
Earlier that day, as soon as the Governor reached the district, nearly 200 DMK cadre showed black flags condemning the Governor. The opposition party in Tamil Nadu has been vocal in their criticism of the Governor, slamming him for interfering in the administrative affairs of the state. The cadre were detained by the police and taken to a wedding hall.