“There is no freedom of speech in Tamil Nadu. People’s right to speak their mind is being taken away from them,” Mahendran, the state joint secretary of the Communist Party of India said. He was speaking at the conference on hate speech and freedom of speech, conducted by the Human Rights Association in Coimbatore.

Mahendran said, “There have been attacks on artistes continuously. After Independence such hate is only seen in politics.” Strong opinions were expressed against the arrest of folk singer Kovan.

About BJP’s Bihar debacle, he said, “B.J.P competed in Bihar keeping in mind the Parliamentary elections. Now we all can see their true colour. The entire country should ignore BJP like they did in Bihar.”