News Tamil Nadu

Renowned Publisher Badri Seshadri Arrested By TN Police

July 29, 2023
The Commune

Badri Seshadri, publisher of several quality books through the publishing house ‘Kizhakku Pathippagam’ was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police on the early hours of Saturday (29 July 2023).

The reasons for the arrest is not clear but Mr. Badri has been charged with Sections 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) have been mentioned in the FIR.

The case has been registered at the Kunnam Police Station in Perambalur district based on a complaint given by one advocate Kaviyarasu.

Badri has been arrested regarding his comments in an interview to a YouTube channel about the Manipur issue.

“Yesterday, the Supreme Court like a big…. I don’t know what word to say. ‘If you can’t do it (contain the violence), we will get down and do it.’ We should give a gun in the hand of Chandrachud (Chief Justice of India) and ask him to go there and do what he can to restore peace. Simply, talking anything without relation. Can you (judiciary) enter into the realm of governance? What fault did you find in what is being done [by the government] there [to restore normalcy]? Two groups are fighting. It is a hilly terrain. A complex land. In that, a few murders will happen. Why did they fight? Could we have prevented the reason for the two groups fighting? It can’t be done easily.”, he can be heard telling in the interview.

These comments about the Chief Justice of India seem to be the reason for the arrest as this clip was picked and shared by Dravidian Stockists and DMK sympathizers.

One Karikalan, a rabid Dravidian Stockist self-proclaimed ‘journalist’ who is known for spewing venom against Brahmins distorted Badri Seshadri’s statements and misquoted him. He claimed that Badri Seshadri justified the violence saying “Women will be raped, people will be killed. This will happen”, when he said nothing of that sort.

BJP Tamil Nadu President condemned the DMK government for arresting Badri Seshadri saying “This corrupt DMK government is relying only on arrests without power to address the views of the common people. Is the Tamil Nadu Police’s job only to enforce the revenge measures of the corrupt DMK government?”

This is not the first time Badri Seshadri has been targeted by Dravidian Stockists and the DMK.

Badri earlier found himself mired in a controversy over a tweet about former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK founder CN Annadurai. Badri, who was part of the advisory committee for the Tamil Virtual Academy was dropped.

Rabid Dravidian Stockist Suba Veerapandian, who runs a fringe outfit Dravida Iyakka Tamilar Peravai, while addressing a crowd from stage adorned by DMK MPs and Ministers said,” Poonool (janeu) which was hiding so far has come out and given courage to Badri to call Anna an idiot. Remember that if the arrogance continues, the poonool will be cut.”

He went on, “I was so enraged that I told DMK MP TR Balu of the incident. TR Balu sought the video and questioned how someone could have the temerity to refer to our leader Anna as an idiot while we are in power. Within 15 minutes he (TR Balu) replied that the issue was taken to MK Stalin. Today Badri is sacked from advisory board.”

Finally, he said, “We were kind enough to continue allowing them (the Brahmins) to hold public office while we were in power. Do not test our patience.”

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