Chennai, April 14: The controversial yet highly popular folk singer Kovan was arrested from his home in the city of Trichy on Friday. The singer was reportedly arrested for creating "enmity" between communities after he uploaded a song on Youtube which raised questions about the "Rath Yatra" that was recently rallied in the state of Tamil Nadu. The song in the middle of controversy for which Kovan has been arrested includes questions on Modi government and also mentions "Ambani and Adani". The song compared the present day government in Tamil Nadu to an episode in Ramayana when Lord Ram's slippers were taken by his younger brother Bharat and kept on the throne while Ram was in exile for 14 years. The song blames the Tamil Nadu government for running a Ram Rajya similar to that implying that the state government in Tamil Nadu is subservient to the Modi government in Centre. The song also mentions the ongoing Cauvery Row and refers to the river as Sita, and says that "Cauvery is our Sita, our woman and has to be brought back..."

In the song, Kovan uses the metaphor of Bharat, who ruled Ayodhya by keeping Lord Ram’s slippers on the throne during his 14-year exile, and accuses the Tamil Nadu government of running a similar “Modi Rajya” in the state. This is not the first time that Kovan has had to court arrest in connection to his work. Here is the video that got Kovan arrested after a BJP leader complained that the songs insulted the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.

In October 2015, Kovan was arrested for writing two songs for his group. Kovan's group is named Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam (People’s Art and Literary Association) or PALA. The group has been running this movement for 30 years now and claims to represent the weaker sections of the society. The team performs folk songs and also conducts street plays on issues that are related to or affect the socio-economic environment and touch cultural issues.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 14, 2018 10:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).