Forest officials in Tamil Nadu made headlines when they swiftly arrested a fortune teller, Selvaraj, hours after a viral video surfaced showing him predicting the electoral victory of a PMK candidate. While the official reason for his arrest was cited as keeping parrots in captivity, many view this move as potentially politically motivated rather than a genuine enforcement of wildlife protection laws. This incident, involving the prediction of a political outcome, raises concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the targeting of marginalized individuals. The arrest of Selvaraj’s brother alongside him further adds to these apprehensions.

In the widely circulated video, Thangar Bachan, the PMK candidate from Cuddalore constituency, sought Selvaraj’s prediction for his electoral success. Following the astrologer’s directions, a parrot emerged from its cage and selected cards bearing images of the deity Bachan had worshipped earlier, leading Selvaraj to declare his victory in the upcoming polls. The video also captured Bachan’s satisfaction with the prediction, as he fed the parrot a banana.

However, as the video gained traction, the forest police intervened, arresting both Selvaraj and his brother for allegedly keeping parrots in captivity. This action, ostensibly taken under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), has sparked debates about the selective enforcement of laws and the potential misuse of state power to suppress dissenting voices.

Critics argue that while caging birds is indeed illegal under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the circumstances surrounding this arrest suggest a broader agenda at play. The targeting of individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds for merely engaging in predictive practices raises questions about the state’s commitment to democratic principles and its treatment of freedom of expression.

In the larger context, such incidents fuel concerns about the state of democracy in Tamil Nadu and its implications for India’s future. The use of state machinery to silence dissenting voices, especially within the realm of traditional beliefs and practices, sets a troubling precedent that could undermine the country’s democratic fabric if left unchecked.