Kamal Hassan, Congress stand beside Sofia Lois, the student arrested for shouting anti-BJP slogans

Kamal Hassan  said “to air dissent is not crime”.

Senior Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tewari also condemned Sofia’s arrest for anti-BJP slogans. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Tewari termed Sofia’s arrest an “assault on freedom of expression”.

A Thoothukudi court on Tuesday granted bail to the 28-year-old Tamil Nadu student and writer who is studying in Canada.

On Monday morning, the BJP leader and the 28-year-old student, studying in Canada, got into an altercation after she shouted “BJP’s fascist government down down” minutes before they were to de-plane.

"When I am taking my bag, a customer shouts 'BJP’s Fascist government down, down'. Is that freedom of speech?" Tamilisai is heard shouting, even as a police officer at the airport tries to pacify her. BJP cadre present along with the leader can be heard yelling at the student and her parents.

Sofia was then booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 290 (Punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for), 505 (Statements Conducing to Public Mischief) in addition to Section 75(1) of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act, 1888. The arrest was condemned from different quarters.

Following Tamilisai’s written complaint, a trial court in the district remanded Sofia to judicial custody for a period of 15 days.

Late on Monday evening, Sofia was taken ill and admitted to the Thoothukudi General Hospital following complaints of severe stomach pain.

However, no action has been forthcoming on the complaint filed by Dr AA Samy, Sofia’s father.

In his complaint, AA Samy said that his wife, his daughter and he were travelling from Chennai to Thoothukudi in the same flight as Tamilisai and that his daughter raised slogans in the flight while getting down. He also stated that Tamilisai did not say anything inside the flight and that the issue began after they reached the baggage area.