The Tamil Nadu police, on Tuesday, lathi-charged members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), who attempted to protest in front of a private location where actor and BJP leader Khushboo was detained. VCK members were forced to disperse by the police. Khushboo had been detained near Muttukadu while she and other BJP members were on their way to Chidambaram on Tuesday morning to protest against VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, for making certain remarks against Manusmriti, an ancient book of laws that is considered a code of conduct for Hindu society.
According to reports, the protest by VCK was unexpected and took place near Kelambakkam. VCK members came to know of the place where Khushboo was being detained and arrived at the spot to conduct a demonstration.
Khushboo was to lead the BJP women's wing protest in Chidambaram. She was accompanied by former Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa and several others. Following the detention, Tamil Nadu BJP leaders questioned the police action.
Police is expected to stand up for people’s freedom of expression when expressed in a RIGHT WAY.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) October 27, 2020
A genuine political protest reflecting people’s anger is a legitimate right for @BJP4TamilNadu
Taking recourse to preventive arrest is not the way out@KTRaghavanBJP @Murugan_TNBJP pic.twitter.com/jf4WYUJiIe
VCK MP Ravikumar, meanwhile, questioned if the BJP leaders who were conducting protests on Tuesday would openly read the ninth chapter's slokams (paragraphs) of the Manusmriti.
மனுஸ்மிருதியை ஆதரித்து இன்று ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடத்தும் பாஜகவினர் மனுஸ்மிருதியின் 9 ஆவது அத்தியாயத்தில் உள்ள சுலோகங்களை மேடையில் படித்துக் காட்டுவார்களா? படம்: ராஜஸ்தான் உயர்நீதிமன்ற வளாகத்தில் உள்ள மனுவின் சிலைக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிக்கும் மகளிர் pic.twitter.com/ISxz33IOvz
— Dr Ravikumar M P (@WriterRavikumar) October 27, 2020
The BJP claimed that MP Thirumalavalavan made disparaging comments against women in a webinar organised in September. They had also demanded an apology from Thirumavalavan for his remarks. However, refusing to offer any apology, Thirumavalavan denied that he was denigrating women and emphasised that he was working for their emancipation. He stated that he was merely explaining how the Manusmriti denigrated women.
Watch the video here: