India
Louis Sophia shouted "Fascist BJP government down, down" in a flight in which Tamil Nadu BJP president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan was also flying.
Updated : Sep 04, 2018, 12:39 AM IST
Twitterati on Monday raised their voice against the jailing of a young woman who shouted slogans against the Narendra Modi government in a flight in which Tamil Nadu BJP president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan was also flying.
The woman, identified as Louis Sophia, called the BJP government at the Centre “fascist” following which Dr Soundararajan picked up an argument with her at the Thoothukudi airport in Tamil Nadu.
Tamilisai accused Sophia who was seated behind her in the flight of raising slogan “Fascist BJP government down, down”. In a video that went viral on social media, Soundararajan was seen losing her cool and arguing with Sophia, a doctoral student of Physics at the University of Montreal, in the arrival lounge of the Thoothukudi airport.
On the complaint filed by the BJP leader, the police arrested Sophia, a native of Thoothukudi, on the charges of causing public nuisance and a breach of public peace under sections of the IPC and the Madras City Police Act, 1888.
She was later produced before the judicial magistrate at Thoothukudi from where she was sent to judicial custody for 15 days.
Leaders of various political parties including the CPI-M, CPI, DMK, Congress and PMK criticized the police "high handedness" and demanded the woman's immediate release.
DMK chief MK Stalin condemned the arrest and demanded that the woman should be released immediately.
“This action of the Tamil Nadu government is anti-democratic and is highly condemnable! She should be released immediately. You will have to arrest lakhs of people who raise slogans like this. I will also raise the slogan. BJP fascist government down, down” Stalin said in his tweet.
Twitter users from across India, mostly from Tamil Nadu, also raised their voice against the arrest and demanded that she be released immediately. Soon, #ReleaseSophia became one of the top trends on the microblogging website.
Here are some of the tweets:
A Tamil now cannot live as a Free Tamil on Tamil soil. I urge every SC Tamil Lawyer to help #ReleaseSophia. File petitions in SC challenging the 15 day remand on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and a wrong application of law.
— DasBolshevik (@BolshevikRetrns) September 3, 2018
Defeat Fascist Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan
#பாசிசபாஜக_ஆட்சிஒழிக ( Fascist BJP Govt down down) is trending number one. Dear BJP This is what happened if you touches a Tamilian. #ReleaseSophia
— Jothimani (@jothims) September 3, 2018
very sad that police arresting her & even judge remanded !! it's a petty issue & should have left with a warning as they both openly fought on camera...one has royal treatment & another landed in jail. Even banana republic is much better ....#ReleaseSophia @hrw
— Srinivas (@rsvas2) September 3, 2018
Yes @narendramodi Ji ...
— Hemanth Annadurai (@HemanthMsa) September 3, 2018
We are always there for you to criticize Ur blunders...
Kindly make note that Sophia was arrested for criticising your government..#ReleaseSophia #பாசிசபாஜக_ஆட்சிஒழிக @mkstalin @ptrmadurai @isai_ @DMKITwing pic.twitter.com/d9esyZZYaz
Yes @narendramodi Ji ...
— Hemanth Annadurai (@HemanthMsa) September 3, 2018
We are always there for you to criticize Ur blunders...
Kindly make note that Sophia was arrested for criticising your government..#ReleaseSophia #பாசிசபாஜக_ஆட்சிஒழிக @mkstalin @ptrmadurai @isai_ @DMKITwing pic.twitter.com/d9esyZZYaz
Even with all these draconian laws of your ugly illiberal country there is no law yet against shouting 'Fascist BJP govt down down' #ReleaseSophia #பாசிசபாஜக_ஆட்சிஒழிக
— #RepealUAPA (@PostModernAsura) September 3, 2018
#ReleaseSophia #பாசிசபாஜக_ஆட்சிஒழிக We think we have Freedom Of Speech this just shows we don't have shit!! If the common People say something against the Government or party they are Arrested. We The People elect the Government.. where is Freedom Of Speech?? Where?
— Abhijeet Shalom (@AbhijeetShalom) September 3, 2018
A lesson for #TamilNadu :
— faiyaz ahmed (@faiyazasm) September 3, 2018
a party that has lesser vote share than NOTA is showing its true colours. Imagine what it can do to you if it comes to power in your state. #ReleaseSophia#FacistBJPDownDown
A student named Sophia just did that in Tuticorin and she has now been sent to 15 days judicial custody. https://t.co/F9IhFi7cYx
— Shilpa Nair (@NairShilpa1308) September 3, 2018
If Sophia is being detained for just shouting a slogan 'Fascist BJP Govt', then isn't what she shouted the truth? This action and arrest of hundreds of activists proves that it is a Fascist BJP Govt after all. #ReleaseSophia https://t.co/trguPYcEzQ
— Nithya Palaniyappan (@Nithu7) September 3, 2018