Tamil folk singer Kovan arrested and charged with sedition for criticising

Tamil folk singer S Sivadas, popularly known as Kovan, was arrested on Friday after two songs, in which he allegedly makes derogatory remarks about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, went viral online.

Kovan was arrested in the early hours of the morning and according to the local police charged with 124A (Sedition), 153A (Promoting enmity between different social groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 505/1 (Criminal intimidation, insult and annoyance) of IPC.

Police said Kovan had been associated with the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, an outfit involved in revolutionary activities in the state.

Soon after the arrest, Kovan, 54, was brought to Chennai. Kovam’s song “Oorkku oorkku sarayam” mocks Tasmac shops (liquor shops) run by the state government in Tamil Nadu. “Such content had highly seditious, slanderous direct references including images, and lyrics, to the government and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa”, he added.

As is common with any extremely-Left propaganda it had sharp anti-authorities views “looking for to guard” the individuals, they stated.

Folk artist and activist Kovan had recently released a song claiming the whole of Tamil Nadu is under the influence of alcohol and that “Poes”.

With a standard drum and sporting a deep-purple headgear, he used to sing naked-chested in dhoti just like any people artiste.