Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who was on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) arrested in connection with a complaint alleging he made misogynistic speech at Thanjavur, accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of resorting to [video] “cut-and-paste” techniques to attribute words to him that he had never uttered.

Also read: Udhayanidhi Stalin arrest LIVE updates

Speaking to reporters minutes after arrest at his Neelangarai residence near Chennai, Mr. Udhayanidhi said a “false case” had been filed against him but he would not be intimidated by the action of the government. “I am shaped by Kalaignar (late former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi), the DMK and its president M.K. Stalin.

He accused the TVK government of adopting diversionary tactics and alleged that the “dummy Chief Minister,” his Ministers and MLAs were “obsessed with releasing reels” and had been “living on reels ever since they came to power”.

Mr. Udhayanidhi contended that during the protest in Thanjavur, he had highlighted what he described as the government’s failure to fulfil its election promises and its commitments to farmers. “It is a cowardly government that has failed to raise its voice against the construction of the Mekedatu dam (proposed by Karnataka). They have suppressed everything I said and are now indulging in diversionary tactics,” he alleged.