A Kalaiyarasan, an Assistant Professor at Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS), was detained for a brief period of time over an alleged abusive Instagram comment targeting TVK MLA J Kamatchi. The Tamil Nadu police released him after it was found that his photograph had been misused to create a fake account.
The Madras Institute of Development Studies Assistant Professor was picked up from his residence here by the Tamil Nadu police early on Wednesday morning. The hours of detention drew severe criticism from former chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin, calling it "peak of fascism".
Who Is A Kalaiyarasan?
Kalaiyarasan is a noted economist and author. He is the co-author of the book titled 'The Dravidian Model', a governing model which the DMK government followed during its tenure in the state. Kalaiyarasan is a highly respected academic who holds a PhD in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and is a co-author of the internationally acclaimed book, The Dravidian Model, published by Cambridge University Press, Stalin said. The professor's credentials as a former member of the Union Planning Commission's team, a contributor to the Tamil Nadu economic survey, and a current member of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Governing Council were well known, he added.
Stalin Slams Vijay Govt
Stalin, in a note shared on X on Thursday, said the author was targeted for exposing unprecedented price hikes under the current administration. The DMK chief expressed deep shock over the plainclothes police officers picking up Kalaiyarasan from his residence at dawn, bundling him into a hired vehicle, and stripping him of his basic rights and mobile phone without proper procedure.
Stalin rejected the police claims of an accidental identification error, stating, "It is impossible to believe that they arrested him without knowing his identity. Intimidating educators while letting actual criminals walk free is a massive disgrace".
(With PTI Inputs)