Tamil Nadu Police detained opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday shortly after registering a case against him for a remark made in a speech. The comment occurred while he was criticizing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on the Cauvery water issue and has been interpreted by many as referring to actor Trisha. Stalin told media during the detention that he had not named anyone besides Vijay and described the police action as retaliatory. He said the court would decide the matter. The remark drew widespread condemnation from political parties across Tamil Nadu. Stalin has approached the Madras High Court for anticipatory bail, with the hearing set for the afternoon. The incident began when an audience member shouted a name during his address on the water dispute, prompting a response that opponents called inappropriate. The ruling party accused him of using offensive language and lowering political standards. The BJP also criticized the comments as unacceptable and called for action. The DMK defended Stalin, stating the controversy was an attempt to shift focus from the water dispute and farmers’ concerns.
