Vijay, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president, has also expressed his support for the Opposition's peaceful protest at the Parliament campus, which has so far been described as an "anti-democratic protest".
Vijay also criticized the action taken against Rahul Gandhi and said opposition parties were protesting on students and education.
“Detaining Rahul Gandhi for protesting is anti-democratic, TVK extends its full support to Opposition's ongoing protest in Parliament campus.”
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) July 22, 2026
- Tamil Nadu CM Vijay pic.twitter.com/CfF7j1YC7Y
“We believe that detaining Rahul Gandhi for protesting is anti-democratic. TVK is not only in support of the Opposition’s peaceful protest on Parliament campus, but is also anti-democratic.
The comments come at a time when the political tensions in the capital are at fever pitch as Opposition leaders have been holding demonstrations for education issues and demanding that the Union government answer. Opposition members have rallied together in protest against the government’s education failures, and they have worn black attire and shouted slogans.
Vijay is aligning TVK with the opposition in asserting that elected representatives should be able to voice concerns through peaceful democratic means.
The statement is likely to add another political dimension to the current debate; regional parties are increasingly commenting on national issues in Parliament. The Opposition has accused the government of suppressing democratic protests, but the ruling BJP has insisted that security measures are always followed and legal procedures are followed if demonstrations are held in restricted areas.
Vijay’s comments also demonstrate TVK’s efforts to articulate its stand on democratic rights and parliamentary protest. The party has, since coming into active politics, made a clear point of positioning itself on issues of public interest and governance as well as other matters of interest, and that political involvement is reflected in the new statement.
The Parliament protests have drawn the involvement of several Opposition parties that have continued to press the Centre about students, education and governance. Government leaders have defended their actions and dismissed the allegations by the Opposition.
Politics as we move along, and we expect the debate on the right to protest, parliamentary functioning and government accountability to continue to be the focus in the current session. Vijay's support for the Opposition will remain a key political issue in Tamil Nadu and in the larger national debate on democratic rights and political dissent.
