CHENNAI: The city police on Tuesday arrested around 75 potters for staging a flash protest near Kalaivanar Arangam, where the budget session of the state assembly is taking place.
The protesters were demanding that the state government relax the restrictions imposed on Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations and permit them to sell the idols they have made after investing lakhs of rupees.
Police personnel deployed on Wallajah Salai stopped members of the ‘Kulalar Salivahanan Makkal Iyakkam’ who had gathered near the Triplicane police station holding idols of the deity. As cops prevented them from proceeding further towards the Kalaivanar Arangam, they sat on the road and staged a flash protest lasting for over 10 minutes.
Police then arrested the protesters who were later detained in a community hall in Triplicane.
The protesters demanded that the state government allow Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations with minor restrictions and let them sell their idols, as most of them had borrowed money from banks and private lenders to make the idols ahead of the festival. “ “We have incurred a huge loss last year due to Covid-19... hence we seek that the state government waive loans that we have taken from banks,” said a protester who was detained.
