Chennai-Salem expressway: DMK warns of statewide protests if arrests continue

As police arrested activists and people who protest against the proposed eight-lane expressway between Chennai and Salem, DMK working president MK Stalin on Tuesday warned the Tamil Nadu government of statewide protests if the arrests continued. The opposition leader said that his party had been opposing the random searches by police to arrest villagers who protest against the government projects.

He was quoted as saying, “If searches don’t stop, the DMK will start a statewide protest against police.” Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran also reportedly warned of protests “if the government is going to favour big corporate houses by arresting villagers.”

Police on Monday arrested environmental activist Piyush Manush for protesting against the project. Actor Mansoor Ali Khan was detained on Sunday, while student activist Valarmathi was arrested on Tuesday.