Folk singer Kovan is anti-liquor, not govt: MK Stalin

On the last leg of his ‘Namakku Naame’ trip around the state, DMK leader M K Stalin came out strongly in support of the controversial folk singer Kovan who is currently lodged in Puzhal prison. On October 31, Kovan was booked on charges of sedition after his song, ‘Moodu moodu’, was considered to be anti- government. His arrest sparked outrage among activists, and organisations, such as Amnesty International, have demanded that Kovan be set free.

Stalin, who mingled freely with people at the busy Kanchipuram bus stand area during his walk and meet-the-people tour on Thursday, was vocal in his support for Kovan. “The State government has arrested the singer on charges of being anti-government. However, Kovan has not sung anything against the government, but has sung only against liquor,” he pointed out. His informal meetings here too followed the pattern of earlier ‘Namakku Naame’ excursions, with people stopping freely to talk to him. In Kanchipuram, he accepted a tender coconut from bystanders.

Stalin also visited the famous Vaikunda Perumal temple in Uttiramerur. Interacting with the media, Stalin said he last visited the ancient temple when he was the local administration minister. Stalin’s visit to temples and comments regarding how many of the families of the DMK cadres were believers, generated much interest since the party had projected itself as a rationalist/atheist one in the past.

DMK leader MK Stalin found an ally in KV Thangkabalu. “Stalin is undertaking the Namakku Naame tour to strengthen his party,” he said on Thursday. Stalin was a good friend of his, he said, adding comments on Stalin’s dress was unwarranted. Congress leader KV Thangkabalu on Thursday criticised EVKS Elangovan’s comments on Stalin’s shift from veshti to smart casuals.