Tamil Nadu police detained senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday while she protested against the alleged TASMAC scam. Officers took her into custody from her home amid heavy police deployment.
Soundararajan’s Reaction Before Detention
Before being detained, Soundararajan expressed her defiance. She told reporters, "They are arresting me from my residence. I won’t go separately. I want everyone to come with me."
BJP Defends Protest, Cites ₹1,000 Crore Scam
Earlier in the day, Soundararajan defended the BJP’s protest. She emphasized that every citizen has the right to protest. Furthermore, she referred to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) findings, which exposed a ₹1,000 crore scam in TASMAC, Tamil Nadu’s state-run liquor monopoly.
"In a democracy, people have the right to protest. The ED has exposed ₹1,000 crore irregularities in TASMAC. We had announced a peaceful agitation, but the police have surrounded us. We are not afraid. We will continue to fight for the people," she declared.
BJP Escalates Attacks on DMK Government
Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its criticism of the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government over corruption allegations. On Friday, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai directly accused state minister V Senthil Balaji of masterminding multiple scams, including the TASMAC case.
"I have my sources. The TASMAC scam is over ₹1,000 crore. Senthil Balaji is involved in every single scam. He is the kingpin. The Supreme Court has questioned whether he has the moral right to continue as a minister," Annamalai stated.
BJP Slams Chief Minister for Reinstating Senthil Balaji
Additionally, Annamalai criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin for reinstating Balaji after his release from jail. Calling him the "liquor minister," he alleged that the TASMAC scam was even bigger than the Delhi liquor scandal.
BJP Criticizes Tamil Nadu Budget
On Saturday, BJP leader CR Kesavan also attacked the Tamil Nadu government’s budget. He labeled it "dismal and directionless." Moreover, he accused the DMK of increasing the state’s debt to ₹9.3 lakh crore, making it the highest in India.
Political Tensions Rise Ahead of Elections
With the Lok Sabha elections approaching, the TASMAC scam controversy is expected to further intensify political clashes between the BJP and DMK.