On 6 January 2025, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth accused the ruling DMK of imposing a ‘mini-emergency‘ in Tamil Nadu. She made this statement after her party was denied permission to hold a protest in Chennai against several issues, including the recent sexual assault of a girl student on the Anna University campus, the rampant availability of drugs, and the ongoing struggle faced by the farmers affected after cyclone Fengal. She also voiced her support for Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi and stated that there was no harm in playing the National Anthem twice in the Assembly, as per the Governor’s request.
DMDK supporters, led by party Deputy General Secretary B Parthasarathi, staged protests in front of the Chennai Collectorate and near Maduravoyal, where several party members were arrested.
Premalatha strongly condemned the government’s refusal to grant permission for the protest. “Have we ever caused any violence, damaged public property, or disrupted the public? We applied for permission, and they remained silent until the very end before denying it. The state government has effectively imposed a mini-emergency. The DMK organized numerous protests when it was in the opposition. Why are people now being denied the right to express their views in a democratic country? Opposition parties must have the freedom to voice their concerns and organize protests. No one should have the right to suppress them,” she said.
She also accused the DMK of hypocrisy, pointing out how their behavior has changed once in power. “When the AIADMK was in charge, the DMK criticized the ₹2500 Pongal gift as insufficient. Now, in power, they’re not even offering ₹1000 for the festival. They claim there’s no revenue—where is the revenue?” she questioned.
Additionally, Premalatha defended the Governor’s request to play the National Anthem twice in the Assembly. “Whenever the Governor comes to the Assembly, a similar situation arises. He attends once or twice a year, and what is he asking for? National Anthem be sung with the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, and after all the speech concludes, the National Anthem should be played again. What is wrong with this? you can sing the National Anthem twice. My question is, what are you going to lose by doing what the Governor asks? Shouldn’t the National Anthem be sung twice in the Assembly? He walked out because his request was ignored. The same situation faced by the public. We are asking for our right to demonstrate but they are refusing to grant permission. Today, the Governor walked out, and parties like ours were arrested for protesting—this is happening now. There’s oppression everywhere. Stalin wants to suppress and control everything. There’s no doubt that in the 2026 elections, the people will teach you a lesson, just like a boomerang.”
She strongly asserted, “Our opinion is, singing the National Anthem twice is not wrong. If they try to make an issue out of it, then he (the Governor) is simply exercising his authority and walking out.”
சட்டமன்றத்தில் தேசிய கீதம் இசைக்க வேண்டும் என்று கேட்பது தவறா..? Boomerang மாதிரி 2026 திருப்பி அடிக்கும்.. – பிரேமலதா#Chennai | #DMDK | #PremalathaVijayakanth | #RNRavi | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/gGIn2knw8o
— Polimer News (@polimernews) January 6, 2025
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