Tamil orator Nellai Kannan held for provocative speech against PM Modi, Amit Shah

Nellai Kannan, a Tamil orator who allegedly made provocative remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah last week, was taken into custody late on Wednesday (January 1) night, police said.

Kannan was whisked away by a police team in Perambalur district in connection with complaints against him by the BJP and the ruling AIADMK.

The move comes hours after top Tamil Nadu BJP leaders staged a demonstration near Gandhi statue point on the Marina beachfront here, demanding his arrest over the remarks.

The BJP had also sent a petition to Governor Banwarilal Purohit seeking action against Kannan.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri in a statement condemned the arrest of Kannan.

Kannan made the alleged remarks at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on December 28. The BJP on Monday lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution.

“Such remarks are an open threat to the lives of the prime minister and the home minister and are an attempt to incite violence, criminal intimidation, and abetment to murder,” State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi had said.