Tamil Scholar Nellai Kannan has been arrested in Perambalur for making controversial remarks on PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

The arrest comes hours after BJP’s senior leaders staged a sit-in protest at Gandhi Statue in Marina beach, demanding Nellai Kannan's arrest.

The four senior leaders of the BJP who led the protest were Pon Radhakrishnan, CP Radhakrishnan, L Ganeshan and H Raja.

Speaking at an event organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on Saturday, Nellai Kannan had said that he was puzzled why the Muslims have not yet killed Modi and Shah. "Amit Shah is the brain behind PM Modi and the two of them should have been finished. But that hasn’t happened yet."

He had also made critical comments against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and others

BJP has claimed that Nellai Kannan's statement was intended to instigate violence against the prime minister and home minister and was a threat to the life of PM and HM.

More than 15 cases were filed against by Nellai Kannan and police have also filed a separate FIR under three sections of IPC.

After the arrest, BJP national secretary H Raja, in a series of tweets, thanked all the BJP cadres who made online complaints or went to police stations to complain against Nellai Kannan.

He also thanked people who protested at the Marina beach. Raja in his tweet said that Kannan wanted PM and Home Minister killed.