A court in Chennai on Friday sentenced Tamil Nadu politician V Gopalaswamy, popularly known as Vaiko, to a one-year jail sentence for sedition. Vaiko, who heads the political party MDMK, was punished for his comments made in 2009 during his book release function. But the sentencing of the one-year the prison term has prompted Twitterati to detect a glaring irony.
The court has, however, stayed the execution of sentencing for a month on Vaiko’s application.
While releasing his book Naan Kuttram Saatugiren in 2009, Vaiko had said that India will not remain ‘one country if the war against the LTTE in Sri Lanka is not stopped.’ The government that slapped a sedition case against him was run by DMK, Vaiko’s ally now. The sentencing has also come at a time when the DMK has nominated him for the Rajya Sabha despite MDMK having no legislators.
Many journalists and eagle-eyed Twitterati were quick to highlight this irony.
#DMK ally #MDMK Chief #Vaiko found guilty for Sedition in connection with a 2009 case slapped against him by #DMK Government. This comes at a time when #DMK has nominated Vaiko for Rajya Sabha. #Vaiko who can’t even be angry with #DMK now, says it’s a happy day. pic.twitter.com/Uw7jFwfdDS
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) July 5, 2019
Irony of ironies. Sedition case was filed against Vaiko by then CM and DMK Chief M.Karunanidhi. So Stalin now can’t even speak against the Judgment. Two days ago DMK gave Vaiko a ticket to the Rajya Sabha. Let us see how this plays out. #Vaiko https://t.co/AFp26kGklq
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) July 5, 2019
Finally justice served …haha this case against MDMK #Vaiko was filed in 2009 by their alliance partner #DMK 😃https://t.co/YvvcfJjCX1
— 🕉️Eshanputra🇮🇳 (@Eshanputra_Om) July 5, 2019
Case filed by #DMK, RS seat offered by #DMK 😆😆😆 Will #Vaiko can contest in RS Elections??? #Vaiko
— Ganesan Pillai (@Ganesanspillai) July 5, 2019
DMK goes about preaching liberalism while using sedition acts against an ally turned enemy turned ally turned what we will know in sometime… #DmkBusted #Vaiko https://t.co/41K2GepDq5
— praveen sridhar (@pravieen) July 5, 2019
Experts say that the one-year jail sentencing of Vaiko will not stop his election to the Rajya Sabha.
The Vaiko led MDMK is BJP’s alliance partner in 2014 elections. The Tamil politician unequivocally supported LTTE and other organizations fighting for separate Tamil Country in Sri Lanka. He is the first member of Parliamentarian and chief of register political party in the country to be detained under the prevention of terrorism act, 2002. He was released after spending 18 months in prison.
In 2019 he went in alliance with DMK and Congress but given a ticket for his alliance to the Rajya Sabha. The Vaiko led MDMK is ‘nationalist’ as long as it was with BJP led NDA. Soon turned to be ‘Anti-national’ when his chances of Rajya Sabha seat is confirmed.
If the sedation law applies to Vaiko, then it should also apply to other regional parties like Shiv Sena, Mizo National Front, Naga peoples Party and former members of ULFA who had been given ticket by BJP to contest election who fought aginst Indian Army once for separate Homeland.
Why the BJP led NDA has separate Yardstick for Vaiko and one for Sadhvi Pragya who has been given ticket for the same crime?
Jai Hind
Mr. Sheikh, read the news properly before posting comments. “A court in Chennai” sentenced Vaiko. If there were sedition case against any regional political party, then let the court take action against them. Even if they are MIM, TJM, JEM, ML, AMIM, etc.
This case was filed by DMK and not BJP or Congress. It would have been easier for DMK to withdraw the case and end of the matter…..