A Thoothukudi court on Tuesday granted bail to a woman student who was arrested on Monday at the Tuticorin airport for shouting “fascist BJP government down, down” on board a flight in the presence of Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Lois Sofia, 28, who is studying in Canada, was taken into custody after Soundararajan filed a complaint with the airport police.

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She was accompanied by her parents who had joined her at the Chennai airport to travel to Tuticorin.

Soon after the BJP leader and the student arrived at the airport’s arrival lounge in Tuticorin from Chennai, a quarrel ensued, which was caught on a camera.

Tamilisai is heard telling the student at the lounge that a flight was no place to raise slogans.

“It (inside of a flight) is not a public forum….how can you expect me to keep mum when she shouts ‘down with BJP’s fascist government’ looking at me? Is it freedom of expression,” she asked.

Later, speaking to reporters, Tamilisai said, “she used worse slogans against the BJP government.”

Sofia was reportedly charged under IPC Sections 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 290 (public nuisance) and Section 75 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act. She was, earlier, sent to judicial custody of 15 days.

Sofia’s arrest led to public outrage with DMK chief MK Stalin also tweeting in support of the student.

“The Tamil Nadu government’s anti-democratic actions, against the right to free speech, are highly condemnable. She must be released immediately. How many people will be imprisoned if you arrest everyone who says that? I will also say it. ‘BJP’s fascist government down, down’,” Stalin tweeted in Tamil.

Soundararajan also took to Twitter and expressed surprise over support to Sofia by some TN leaders.

“Surprised to see reactions of few TN leaders insupport of her unruly behavior inside aircraft claiming it as Democratic right.Will they accept a similar situation happens for them during their next air journey inside plane will they or their cadres keep quiet as Democratic right?,” she tweeted.

Surprised to see reactions of few TN leaders insupport of her unruly behavior inside aircraft claiming it as Democratic right.Will they accept a similar situation happens for them during their next air journey inside plane will they or their cadres keep quiet as Democratic right?

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiBJP) September 3, 2018