Chennai, 08 June (H.S.):BJP National Women’s Wing president and former Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan on Monday strongly criticised the arrest of YouTuber Maridhas, alleging that the Tamil Nadu government was using police action to curb criticism and undermine freedom of expression.

Maridhas was arrested by police from his residence in Madurai following complaints related to videos he had posted on social media criticising Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, several ministers and ruling party legislators. Members of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had accused him of circulating AI-generated content and making defamatory remarks against government leaders.

The arrest triggered a political controversy, with the BJP accusing the state government of intolerance towards criticism and dissenting voices.

In a statement, Vanathi Srinivasan described the arrest as “deeply disturbing” and argued that questioning the government and highlighting its shortcomings were essential features of a healthy democracy. She maintained that citizens have a constitutional right to express opinions and criticise those in power, provided it is done within the framework of the law.

According to the BJP leader, governments should respond to criticism through dialogue, facts and public accountability rather than through police action. She alleged that the arrest of a social media commentator for expressing critical views created an atmosphere of fear and could discourage democratic debate.

Vanathi further claimed that the present administration was adopting practices that political parties had earlier opposed when they were in the opposition. She argued that repeated action against critics, commentators and social media users raised concerns about the state of free speech and democratic rights.

Emphasising that dissent and criticism are integral to democratic governance, she said elected governments must remain open to public scrutiny and differing opinions.

“Criticism should be answered with facts and explanations, not with arrests,” she said.

The arrest of Maridhas is expected to intensify the political confrontation between the ruling TVK government and opposition parties, with issues relating to freedom of speech, online criticism and the use of law enforcement likely to remain at the centre of political debate in Tamil Nadu.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman