'Arrest Is an Extreme Reaction': Writers, Artists Write to Stalin Against Badri Seshadri's Arrest

New Delhi: A group of eight renowned writers, historians and artists have written to Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin to express their concern about the arrest of publisher and writer Badri Seshadri for comments he made on Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud.

Seshadri was speaking of the CJI in the context of the ethnic violence in Manipur, and had questioned – referring to the CJI’s comment that the apex court would be forced to interfere in the issue if the Union government did not take appropriate action – whether judges have the knowledge of Manipur’s ground realities to be able to judge the situation.

“He went on to question whether the CJI would dare to stand in Manipur wielding a gun,” South First has reported.

In their letter to Stalin, the signatories have said that while Seshadri's comments may deserve "unequivocal condemnation", "arrest is an extreme reaction to such an infringement and goes against the spirit of the constitutional assurance of freedom of expression".

Read the full text of the letter below.

§

To
The Hon’ble Chief Minister Thiru. M. K. Stalin Avargal

Vanakkam

We the undersigned write to draw your kind attention to the crucial question of freedom of expression.

Two days ago, Thiru Badri Seshadri, publisher and writer has been arrested on the charge of holding the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India to contempt. There is no doubt that Thiru Badri Seshadri’s outburst deserves unequivocal condemnation. However, we strongly believe that arrest is an extreme reaction to such an infringement and goes against the spirit of the constitutional assurance of freedom of expression.

We believe that the Government of Tamil Nadu following the Dravidian Model of Governance, inspired by the ideals of Thandai Periyar, Arignar Anna and Kalaignar Karunanidhi is strongly committed to the freedom of expression. We expect the Government of Tamil Nadu, which differs vastly from other state governments of the Indian union, to be an exemplary model in this matter.

Thandai Periyar strongly urged the people to ‘not heed meaningless words, consider everything rationally, and act in a manner in conformity with reason.’ Periyar not only advocated the right to expression but also the right to hear every point of view. Periyar trusted in the rationality of people and their ability to discriminate right from wrong.

We therefore request you that Thiru Badri Seshadri be released at the earliest and encourage the refutation of his unacceptable views on various forums.

Yours Sincerely,

Signatories

Ambai, Writer
Paul Zacharia, Writer
T.M. Krishna, Musician
Perumal Murugan, Writer
A.R. Venkatachalapathy, Historian
Stalin Rajangam, Subaltern Historian
Rajan Krishnan, Professor
Kannan Sundaram, Publisher

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