The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has written to Chennai Police Commissioner demanding action against a pro-Modi video blogger Maridhas for making a video blog questioning the DMK’s stand on abrogation of Article 370.
According to the police complaint, DMK has accused Maridhas of ‘making baseless statements which are intended to create public mischief’. The video in Tamil titled “தி.மு.க. தடை செய்யப்பட வேண்டுமா?” Should the DMK be banned?” was uploaded by Maridhas on 18th August following the abrogation of Article 370 earlier this month. DMK has accused Maridhas of trying to “disturb public tranquility and promote enmity and incite hatred between religious groups, namely Muslims and non-Muslims.”
The DMK further alleges that Maridhas has used the current statements made by DMK in light of abrogation of Article 370 to create public mischief and ill-will against Muslims. The complaint reads:
From the video, three statements are translated from Tamil to English and reproduced below to establish prima facie case against Mr. Maridhas:
A. Statement made by Mr. Maridhasas per video published on 18 August 2019 from around 7 minute 10 seconds:
“DMK’s stand on Article 370 is in support of the terrorist organizations such as Hizbul Mujahideen and Laskar-e-Taiba.”
B.Statement made by Mr. Maridhas as per video published on 18 August 2019 from around 13 minute 40 seconds:
“DMK commuted the sentence of convicts and has supported terrorists”
C.Statement made by Mr. Maridhas as per video published on 18 August 2019 from around 19 minute 50 seconds:
“Has DMK taken money from Pakistan or does DMKhave anunderstanding with terrorist organizations to issue statements?”
The DMK says that Maridhas has made the above statements due to its critical stand on abrogation of Article 370. The DMK has demanded action against him under Sections 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and relevant provisions under Section 79 and other relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The DMK had led an all-opposition party demonstration at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on August 22 to protest against the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
