MDMK chief Vaiko and his supporters were detained on Monday for defying prohibitory orders when they tried to break police barricades near Jantar Mantar.

They were released from police station hours after Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was over.
 
Vaiko and dozens of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam workers had been protesting at Jantar Mantar on Monday against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapaksa for Modi’s oath ceremony.

The MDMK chief held a black-flag protest at Jantar Mantar for about an hour on Monday afternoon before he and his supporters proceeded towards Rashtrapati Bhavan. Some party workers also set the Sri Lankan flag and Rajapaksa’s portrait on fire.

They were detained when they tried breaking the steel barricades near Parliament Street police station.

Protesters shouted “chase him out, chase him out” referring to the Sri Lankan President. Vaiko said the sanctity of the swearing-in ceremony was polluted by Rajapaksa’s visit.