New Delhi: Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Friday repeatedly whipped himself in a show of protest, accusing the DMK government of failing to protect the students of Anna University in Chennai.
Annamalai alleged that the DMK government and police leaked the victim’s personal details, compromising her dignity. He dubbed it as a “shameful” act that exposed the administration’s incompetence.
The BJP leader, who declared on Thursday that he would refrain from wearing slippers/footwear until the DMK is removed from power, hit out at the absence of CCTV surveillance at the university and raised questions over the state’s use of the Nirbhaya fund intended for women’s safety.
VIDEO | BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai (@annamalai_k) whips himself outside his residence in Coimbatore to condemn the police, and the state government for their ‘apathy’ in handling the case of sexual assault of a student of Anna University.#TamilNaduNews
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/v3G3DD3nn9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2024
Flaying law minister S Regupathy for defending the state’s actions, he pointed out: “The FIR itself has revealed the victim’s identity and depicted her in a poor light. This is a disgrace, and the DMK government must take onus.”
He also blasted the police for mishandling the case and called for the removal of the Chennai police commissioner or the deputy commissioner involved in the case. Announcing the end of public protests that frequently lead to arrests, he urged BJP members to hold demonstrations at their homes instead.
The BJP president also declared his plans to observe a 48-day fast and visit the six Arupadai Veedu (Lord Muruga’s six abodes) to “complain to Murugan” about the downslide in the state’s governance.
He said that such kind of dirty politics leaves no room for respect or constructive debate. “Women’s safety must never be compromised under any circumstances.” Annamalai also exhorted the middle class to launch protest against the DMK regime.
