13th November 2015, New Delhi
Release comrade Kovan immediately!
Shut Down TASMAC Now!
These were the slogans which marked the protest demonstration on 13-11-2015 at Tamil Nadu Bhawan in Delhi. Several students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (from various organizations) held a protest at Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi against the forceful arrest of Com.Kovan under sedition. Students across universities and party affiliation joined the protest and condemned the state oppression. Previously, when the students of JNU had conducted a protest against the police brutalities on students and protesters in Tamil Nadu who were raising their voice against TASMAC liquor shops, a peaceful demonstration had taken place in front of the already barricaded Tamil Nadu House. However this time the protest was forcefully halted before the protesters reached the site at Uttarakhand Bhavan by the police. Around 50 students from JNU, Delhi University & South Asian University carried out the protest there itself. A girl from Elam Tamil who is studying at South Asian University condemned the arrest and gave a speech.
Com. Kovan of PALA was arrested on charges of sedition under sections 124(A), 153 and 502(1). The two songs performed by him, ‘ooti kudutha othami’ and ‘moodo tasmac’ were performed by activists from TNM and other students to mark protest against at the absurdity of the charges slapped.
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All the organizations expressed solidarity towards the cause of People’s Power’s ongoing struggle against TASMAC and registered protest on the issue of Com. Kovan’s abduction under thr regressive colonial sedition act. The organizations included AISA, AISF, BAPSA, Collective, DSF, DSU, Hundred Flowers Group, Janrang, SFI & TNM from JNU along with other organizations like Krantikari Naujawan Sabha, Nowruz, Sanhati, Disha Chhatra Sangathan and Parivartan Chhatra Sangathan from other universities. Various organizations pointed out, that how people’s movement led by PALA in Tamil Nadu has been concretely organized with the significant number of women participating in it and thus making it really a very important mobilization against the Tamil Nadu government. The arrest of comrade Kovan exposes the true colour of Tamil Nadu government which boasts of its populist politics during elections but when it comes to the democratic demand of people, it crushes the people’s agitation with brutal forces. This is also another crucial moment for all the progressive forces to join the masses and raise their voice against the state oppression on cultural activists who are advocating for a democratic cause. Several media groups from Tamil Nadu covered the protest demonstration today.
We were informed by the police that Tamil Nadu House had directed the Delhi Police to not allow any protests to take place at that venue, however the Resident Commissioner’s version wasn’t consistent with that. We condemn the actions of the state which violates our right to protest through some means or the other. A memorandum was submitted under the leadership of JNU Students Union.
– JNU Students Union