Stalin demands release of protesters detained over electoral roll revision

DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin condemned police action against protesters over the SIR electoral roll revision on October 10. He demanded the immediate release of detainees and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.

In social media posts, Stalin described the situation in Delhi as an undeclared emergency. He said detaining opposition leaders and student activists would not stop youth protests. That description was the DMK leader’s political assessment.

Stalin also criticised Tamil Nadu’s TVK government. He said state authorities had detained activists opposing SIR and demanding Kumar’s resignation, and accused them of serving the interests of the BJP-led central government.

Alongside releasing detainees, Stalin called for the roll revision to be halted and accountability for those he blamed for violations of voters’ rights. His references to conspiracy and betrayal are allegations rather than judicial findings.

In a separate morning statement, he stressed the right to peaceful dissent. Stalin argued that the Election Commission’s independence and integrity should be restored, rather than the response being limited to replacing its leader.