Off with Their Heads-Suppression of Dissent in Tamil Nadu

criticism or permit an objective discussion of events and issues. Meetings organised by opposition left parties and groups to protest price rise, bus fare hike, meetings organised by Tamil cultural groups on the Tamil crisis in Sri Lanka, rallies that seek to explain to the masses the meaning and necessity of federalism have all been banned over the past few months and in some instances speakers at these meetings have been told what they may and may not speak. Members of a radical left group who had put up posters that referred to Jayalalitha as 'brahminicar in her politics have been arrested under TADA on the grounds that they are attempting to fan communal hatred. The PUCL report on the Mahamakam tragedy was routinely ignored by the government but soon after the report was released, Jayalalitha quickly sought to absolve herself of any blame that might attach itself to her. In a statement reeking of moral ire she warned that those who accuse her of having caused those deaths at the Mahamakam festival would be duty punished by almighty god.