Makkal Neethi Maiam founder- president Kamal Haasan Saturday condemned the detention of Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav near Tiruvannamalai when he was on his way to express solidarity with farmers protesting against the proposed Salem-Chennai Expressway project. He said 'brother' Yadav, "a politician from a different state" had come to learn about the opinion of the farmers of our state".

"This act is to be criticised and condemned, as it prevents opinions from being shared and is an act of dictatorship," Haasan said in a statement here. People should have the freedom to express their views without fear, the actor-turned-politician added. The Swaraj Abhiyan leader tweeted that he was "manhandled" and pushed into a police van. "We came on the invitation of Movement Against 8Lane Way.