A 28-year-old student, Lois Sofia, was arrested on Monday for shouting “fascist BJP government down, down” when on board a flight at Tuticorin airport. Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan was also present on the flight and registered a complaint against Sofia, after which, she was sent to judicial custody for 15 days.
Sofia, a student in Canada, was returning home. The incident took place at Tuticorin airport.
In a video of the incident shared by The Indian Express, Tamilisai can be heard saying, “I will lodge a complaint. How dare you shout like that?” In another video, Tamilsai is caught on camera saying, “When I am taking my bag, a customer shouts ‘BJP’s Fascist government down down’. Is that freedom of speech?”
Sofia’s father Dr A A Sami, a retired government doctor, told IE, “My wife Madhuri and I received our daughter at Chennai airport and we were flying from Chennai. When we landed at Tuticorin, she (Sofia) saw the BJP leader and said ‘fascist BJP government down, down’. She didn’t utter a word other than that. But when we reached the terminal, Tamilisai and some 10 men who received her at the airport surrounded us and bullied my daughter with abusive words. They issued death threats. Finally, the airport police came to our help and secured us in a room.”
He continued, “After this incident, Tamilisai filed a complaint. Later, we learnt from police that there was a complaint. They asked us to come to the police station, promising that we will get bail there itself. But there were calls from higher ups and now they are trying to put her in prison.”
A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Sofia under IPC Sections 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 290 (public nuisance) and Section 75 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act.
Sofia’s lawyer spoke to The News Minute and stated that Sofia will not be apologising for what she said. “She (Tamilisai) is a good doctor, a senior leader. Couldn’t she have just spoken to her? Instead of shaming her in public. She (Sofia Lois) is just a student. It’s so common to do this in Canada. We don’t have that freedom in India. Instead of advising her, she has insulted her. She also instigated her cadres who have been even more vulgar.” the lawyer said.
The BJP lawmaker told IE, “No innocent girl will use that word. I questioned her. She replied that she has the right to freedom of expression. She shouted that slogan and used the word ‘fascist’, raising her fist and all. I thought I shouldn’t ignore a terrorist, so I filed a petition,” she said.
When asked about her men threatening Sofia, Tamilisai replied, “As there was an argument, they also questioned her. I was upset over the way she blamed my government. At one point, she claimed that her slogan was against the BJP government, not me. But wasn’t she only targeting me when I was on board the flight? I argued with her, even police had to step in and pacify me. I told them I cannot ignore it if my government is questioned in such a way.”