Anna University Row: TN BJP Chief Annamalai Vows To Walk Barefoot Until DMK Is Ousted, Will 'Whip Himself'

Addressing reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai on Thursday slammed the state police and government for their handling of the recent Anna University sexual assault case.

The BJP leader announced the protest in the wake of a political controversy surrounding the sexual assault on a female student at Anna University in Chennai. 

Source : X

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai announced a series of protests against DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu. As part of the protest, Annamalai pledged to flog himself, fast for 48 days and to remain without wearing footwear until DMK is ousted from power. The BJP leader announced the protest in the wake of a political controversy surrounding the sexual assault on a female student at Anna University in Chennai. 

Addressing reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai on Thursday slammed the state police and government for their handling of the recent Anna University sexual assault case.

From Friday, Annamalai said that he would whip himself six times a day in front of his residence, as per a report on Times of India. Expressing his anguish over the police's alleged mishandling of the case, he accused the authorities of leaking sensitive information about the victim, including her name and phone number, through the FIR.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai said, "Tomorrow, I will hold a protest in front of my house, where I will whip myself 6 times. Starting from tomorrow, I will fast for 48 days and appeal to the six-armed Murugan. Tomorrow, a protest will be held in front of the house of every BJP member. From tomorrow until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear sandals. There must be an end to this."

#WATCH | During a press conference, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai removed his shoe and said, "From tomorrow onwards until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear any footwear..."

Tomorrow, K Annamalai will protest against how the government handled the Anna… https://t.co/Jir02WFrOx pic.twitter.com/aayn33R6LG

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2024

 

The vow of TN BJP chief draws parallel to BJP's Anuppur district president Ramdas Puri who went back to wearing shoes again last year after a gap of six years. In 2017, Ramdas Puri stopped wearing footwear after taking an oath that he would not wear footwear until BJP came to power in the state.

Earlier, K Annamalai questioned all MLAs and MPs from DMK over the safety of people in Chennai. He said, "Crimes against women are at an all-time high. Now this is not only shocking but for a moment we all felt paralysed. One of the safest places, Chennai, is the sprawling Anna University campus. A girl and boy were on a University campus when two unknown boys entered the campus and beat up the boy and sexually assaulted the girl with injuries. And now the CCTVs are not functioning."

The state BJP chief asserted that the incident showed the current law and order scenario in Tamil Nadu. "We pray that the police will be given freedom to operate. All MLAs, MPs are from DMK in Chennai, is this a city safeguarding the people?...I hope and pray Tamil Nadu govt acts," he said. 

Meanwhile, Annamalai also claimed that Gnanasekaran, arrested in connection with the crime, serves as the deputy organiser of DMK's Saidapet East student wing. According to police, Gnanasekaran entered the campus and sexually assaulted the second-year engineering student while she was with her friend in the University on December 23. However, DMK denied the allegation.