Stalin, DMK cadres detained by police for creating ruckus near CM’s office

CHENNAI: DMK working president MK Stalin and 19 MLAs belonging to his party and Congress were detained by police outside the state secretariat on Thursday.
Stalin and other MLAs were scheduled to participate in the business advisory meeting of the Assembly as the session will start on May 29.

But, on arrival at the secretariat, the MLAs suddenly boycotted the meeting held at Assembly speaker P Dhanapal's office and instead demanded to meet chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. The CM's office said only five MLAs, including Stalin would be permitted to meet the chief minister.

Stalin and others wanted the CM's office to allow all the MLAs and sat on a dharna outside his room. After a few minutes, Stalin and other MLAs were carried out of the room. The MLAs raised slogans outisde CM office, calling for the CM’s resignation. Following this, Stalin and other MLAs sat on a dharna on Rajaji Salai for nearly 30 minutes, bringing the traffic on the busy road to a standstill.

They were rounded up by police and taken to a marriage hall in Royapuram in north Chennai. By then, DMK cadres from various areas started arriving outside the secretariat and blocking vehicles carrying Stalin and other party MLAs.

"The protest against the government will continue till the chief minister resigns as he is responsible for the killing of more than 10 people in police firing in Tuticorin," Stalin told reporters, seated in the police van. He also wanted director general of police T K Rajendran to quit. "I shall face any case registered against me. I would bravely take any bullet,” said Stalin after being detained by police.