Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP President and the current leader of the ‘We The Leaders’ movement, K. Annamalai, has firmly clarified his political stance regarding the ongoing agitations by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Addressing a public gathering at a movement event on Thursday, Annamalai categorically stated that he does not endorse the CJP or its leadership under Abhijeet Dipke, asserting that their core political agendas are entirely distinct.
“We never support the Cockroach Janta Party. Their agenda is different, and ours is different,” Annamalai remarked. However, he maintained that in a functioning democratic setup, every political outfit possesses the fundamental right to protest and raise its voice for its cause.
This swift clarification comes in the wake of mounting political scrutiny and criticism aimed at Annamalai, particularly from his former party, the BJP. The backlash was triggered after he publicly questioned the recent police crackdown on CJP protesters in New Delhi on October 10. Hitting back at his detractors, Annamalai boldly declared that he did not require any unsolicited lessons in nationalism or loyalty to the nation.
“I have the experience of living and working in several states across the country. I deeply understand the unity and sovereignty of India. Therefore, I do not need anyone’s sermons on patriotism,” he asserted. He further emphasized that law enforcement agencies should act fairly, stating, “We believe that arrests should only be made in accordance with the law and due process, not out of vindictiveness.”
Taking a swipe at the administration, he challenged the government to utilize apex intelligence bodies like the IB and RAW to apprehend genuine culprits if there was an actual threat to national sovereignty, rather than propagating fabricated narratives on social media platforms. Simultaneously, he issued a strong warning against any deliberate attempts to erode public trust in vital democratic institutions, including the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court.
Despite his critical tone on procedural matters and the recent police actions, Annamalai was effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance. “Modi is a good PM, and he is doing good work. However, even while supporting the Prime Minister, if we find something fundamentally wrong, we will not hesitate to raise questions,” he affirmed, carefully striking a balance between his support for the national leadership and his commitment to constructive criticism.