A case of sedition has been registered against six activists of an anti-liquor group for allegedly making incendiary speeches at a recent meet to demand closure of state-run liquor outlets, drawing sharp reaction from the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The six activists of 'Makkal Adhikaram' were booked by police for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the event held on February 14 at Tiruchirappalli.

'Makkal Adhikaram' is a group with Left-leanings and running a campaign seeking closure of state-run liquor outlets.

The activists were also booked under other Indian Penal Code sections, including 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) on March 26, police said.

Speaking to reporters at Madurai, senior BJP leader and party election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Prakash Javadekar slammed the authorities for slapping criminal case against the activists.

In a similar case, last October, ultra-left folk singer Kovan was arrested on sedition charges and for allegedly singing a defamatory song against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa over liquor issue. He was released on bail later. The issue had snowballed into a political controversy.