more-in MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Sunday said the Centre was acting against secularism, and the ordinance making triple talaq a criminal offence had created much anguish among Muslims. Addressing reporters here after attending a wedding, he said the ordinance against triple talaq, “a practice not accepted by Islam”, was against the interests of minorities and secularism. “The Centre is trying to impose Hindutva,” he said, adding, “There’s no place for communalism in Tamil Nadu.” Hindus, Muslims and Christians lived peacefully here, he added. He said the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be voted back to power again in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Vaiko said BJP national secretary H. Raja and MLA Karunas should be arrested for their comments that might disturb public peace. He would be participating in the meeting to be held by the NGT team in Chennai to hear concerned parties in the Sterlite case on Monday. “The opinions expressed by some favouring the Sterlite plant are not the general opinion of the people,” Mr. Vaiko said. CPI (M) State secretary R. Mutharasan said lawful action was not taken against BJP members. He also slammed the State government for not arresting H. Raja and S.V. Sekar for their comments against the judiciary and women journalists. Veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu said the recent communal violence at Shencottai was hurting. Communal forces should not be supported in the State, he added. DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan said no action had been taken by the Centre on the resolution passed in the Assembly against NEET. The 37 MPs of the AIADMK were under the control of the BJP, he added.

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