'Will Put Up 10,000': Annamalai As TN BJP Workers Arrested For Protesting Removal Of Party Flag In Chennai

The arrest of several BJP activists on the outskirts of Chennai was "purely politically motivated, uncalled for, and unwarranted," BJP National Co-Incharge of Tamil Nadu Ponguleti Reddy said.

The BJP criticised the arrest of its workers by police for protesting the removal of the party flag at Panaiyur on the East Coast Road on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. The arrest of several BJP activists on the outskirts of Chennai was "purely politically motivated, uncalled for, and unwarranted," according to BJP National Co-Incharge of Tamil Nadu Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, who accused the governing DMK of engaging in vengeance politics.

"The removal of the flagpole placed near the residence of Tamil Nadu State President K Annamalai in Chennai outskirts and the arrest of BJP karyakartas (workers) is strongly condemned... Curbing democratic rights is an unconstitutional act," Reddy was quoted by PTI in its report. 

Following a complaint, city officials and police dismantled the party flagpole, which was reportedly built on roads department property, in the early hours of Saturday.

According to the party, a huge number of BJP activists assembled near Annamalai's residence attempted to block the police from dismantling the flagpole, and the party's IT wing state secretary Vivin Bhaskaran was gravely hurt during the demonstration.

Police stated they had to detain a considerable number of party workers before releasing them. They stated that five people were detained for committing public property damage.

Earlier today, Tambaram police in Chennai detained Tamil Nadu BJP functionary Amar Prasad Reddy in connection with hitting and destroying the JCB vehicle brought by authorities to dismantle the flag pole installed near state BJP president K Annamalai's house. Later, he was produced before the Magistrate Court in Tambaram. As ordered by the Judicial Magistrate, Reddy was sent to judicial custody till November 3. 

The senior politician alleged in the statement that the BJP's expansion in the state, particularly Annamalai's 'En Mann, En Makkal' padayatra, has unsettled the DMK. He stated that the people of Tamil Nadu will respond appropriately to the DMK government's "undemocratic act" at the proper moment.

"The BJP will not be cowed down by such threats and it will continue to fight for justice and also expose the "misrule of the DMK government," Reddy stated. 

Meanwhile, Annamalai declared that his party will build 10,000 flagpoles across the state, with the final one being erected in Panaiyur, where it had been "forcibly removed by the police."