Political parties and journalists on Monday condemned the arrest of cartoonist G. Bala for his cartoon on usury-related public immolation of a family.
Leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M.K. Stalin condemned the arrest saying that it was against the freedom of speech and expression. Mr. Bala was released on bail on Monday morning.
“To arrest and torture him for this is against democracy,” he said.
CPI (M) general secretary G. Ramakrishnan slammed the State police for their high-handedness.
Meanwhile, journalists in Chennai registered their protest at the Chennai Press Club. Large banners of the cartoon drawn by Mr. Bala that led to his arrest were displayed at the Press Club building and journalists held the cartoon on placards. They raised slogans asking the government to withdraw the case and stop oppressing free speech.
A. Kumaresan, editor of Theekathir , said there was censorship on poets and writers. “There are people who attempt to stop films from releasing and there are religious groups that threaten writers and journalists; this seems like we are in the times of Emergency,” he added.
