Student Arrested For Raising Anti-BJP Slogan in Front of Tamil Nadu BJP Chief; Stalin Slams Govt

A woman was arrested at the Tuticorin airport in Tamil Nadu on Monday for purportedly raising anti-BJP slogan at Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Lois Sofia, a 28-Year-Old an Indian research scholar in Canada, and Ms. Soundararajan were coming to Tuticorin in the same flight while Sofia raised the slogan. She did this in the plane when the BJP leader, a co-passenger seated in the front row, came close to Sofia to take her bag.

The student was sent to judicial custody for 15 days after she shouted “fascist BJP government down, down” in the flight in front of Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan. Sofia allegedly shouted, "Down with Modi - BJP - RSS fascist government"

The incident occurred after the flight landed at the Tuticorin airport. Lois Sofia, was coming home from Canada and she was with her parents who joined her at Chennai for the IndiGo flight to Tuticorin.

Following Sophia's shouting, the BJP leader lost her cool stance and entered into an argument with Sophia. Sophia has been charged with causing public nuisance under section 290 of the IPC and for causing breach of public peace under section 75(1)(C) of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act, 1888.

Retweeting a news story about the student's arrest, DMK chief MK Stalin slammed the Tamil Nadu government over the students' arrest; he wrote on social media platform Twitter, "The anti-democratic actions of the Tamil Nadu government that is against the right to free speech are highly condemnable. She must be released immediately. If you would arrest everyone who says that, how many lakhs of people would you imprison? I will also say it. 'BJP's fascist government down, down'"

On the Contrary, reacting to the incident, Tamilisai Soundararajan said: "A middle-aged lady on seeing me started raising anti-BJP slogans and even followed up to the arrival gate. Her appearance looked threatening, I feel some organisation is behind her."