The four-member BJP delegation appointed by BJP’s National President JP Nadda, led by former Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, met with Governor RN Ravi and submitted a memorandum highlighting what they describe as “atrocities and harassment” committed against their cadre by the Tamil Nadu police.
The controversy began with the forceful removal of the BJP flagpole in front of K Annamalai’s residence in Pannaiyur, accompanied by a heavy deployment of police personnel. The removal took place late in the night of October 27 and was met with opposition from the Muslim community residing nearby. To bring down the flagpole, JCB excavators were employed, resulting in injuries to a BJP cadre member. Six BJP functionaries, including Sports Cell President Amar Prasad Reddy, were arrested under various sections.
Allegations of Misuse of Police Machinery
The BJP has accused the Tamil Nadu police of misusing their authority for the targetted and biassed arrest of BJP and Sangh Parivar cadres actively engaged in social media. This has raised concerns within the party about the misuse of state power to suppress political opposition.
BJP delegation led by Thiru D. V. Sadananda Gowda, MP, met and presented a memorandum to the Governor, highlighting atrocities and harassments being committed on their cadres by the law enforcement agencies in the State by foisting allegedly false charges. pic.twitter.com/9KvVxpg0iy
— LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@lokbhavan_tn) October 28, 2023
In response to these allegations and the escalating tensions in Tamil Nadu, BJP National President JP Nadda formed a four-member delegation. The panel consisted of BJP Andhra Pradesh President D. Purandeswari, BJP MPs Dr. Satyapal Singh, and PC Mohan. Lok Sabha MP Sadananda Gowda led the delegation. The group arrived in Chennai on October 27, accompanied by National Co-Incharge for Tamil Nadu Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President Dolphin Sritharan, and BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Dr. SG Suryah.
BJP delegation led by Thiru.@DVSadanandGowda MP, Smt.@PurandeswariBJP President of @BJP4Andhra, Thiru.@dr_satyapal MP & Thiru.@PCMohanMP MP called on the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu Thiru.RN Ravi(@rajbhavan_tn) & presented a Memorandum highlighting the atrocities &… pic.twitter.com/kXP3RiC5Ru
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) October 28, 2023
During their visit to Tamil Nadu, the delegation visited the residence of K Annamalai in Pannaiyur and also met with the families of the seven BJP functionaries who had been arrested, including Amar Prasad Reddy. The delegation subsequently met with Governor RN Ravi at Raj Bhavan, where they urged the governor to seek an explanation from the chief secretary and senior police officials regarding the flagpole removal incident.
Memorandum to the Governor
In their memorandum to the governor, the BJP delegation demanded action against the state government, asserting, “Ever since the DMK government came to power in May 2021, there has been a noticeable rise in the frequency of arrests and illegal actions against BJP cadres across Tamil Nadu. The DMK government has been exploiting the power at their disposal and has filed frivolous cases against BJP cadres with vindictiveness as the only motive. The committee brings to your (governor) kind attention the arrests of over 409 BJP cadres and supporters in Tamil Nadu over the past two years.”
This move is part of the BJP’s efforts to draw attention to what they perceive as increasing political harassment and suppression of their party in Tamil Nadu and to seek the intervention of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in addressing the ongoing issues.
The BJP delegation’s visit and the submission of their memorandum to the Governor highlight the escalating tensions between the BJP and the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu. The party has accused the state government of misusing its power to target and harass BJP members. The call for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the situation and the BJP’s determination to address the alleged injustices against their cadre in the state. As this situation continues to evolve, it remains a focal point in the state’s political landscape.
Amid rising tensions in Tamil Nadu, a delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by former Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda addressed the media at the BJP’s state headquarters. The delegation shared its concerns and outlined a course of action following recent incidents involving the Tamil Nadu government and law enforcement.
Sadananda Gowda affirmed that the delegation would prepare a comprehensive report on the situation involving BJP functionaries in Tamil Nadu. This report would be submitted to the BJP’s National President, JP Nadda, who would then determine the subsequent actions.
Furthermore, the delegation expressed its intent to seek the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in addressing the issues they have raised. Gowda highlighted the importance of this request, stating, “Amit Shah is the man who can certainly take note of the issues and decide what the best course of action should be.” He emphasised that if the state government itself is involved in activities detrimental to the BJP, the only viable option is to involve the Union Home Ministry.
Sadananda Gowda also took the opportunity to address the ongoing issues related to the harassment of BJP members in Tamil Nadu. He criticised the Tamil Nadu government for its alleged misuse of police power and attempts to restrict the political activities of BJP members. He warned against the use of the police to manhandle BJP “karyakartas” (workers) and expressed his concern over the situation.
D Purandeswari, the President of BJP Andhra Pradesh, spoke to reporters, shedding light on the grievances expressed by BJP functionaries in Tamil Nadu. According to Purandeswari, these party members recounted incidents of harassment they faced under the rule of the DMK government. She revealed that even actions as simple as retweeting a post could result in swift police intervention, leading to arrests and subsequent imprisonment.
She asserted that the DMK government’s alleged actions were driven by an inability to accept the BJP’s success in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the context of K Annamalai’s state-wide yatra (journey). To impede the yatra’s progress, the DMK government reportedly resorted to creating various challenges, including the filing of false cases and the arrest of BJP “karyakarthas.”
On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we thank our @BJP4India National President Thiru @JPNadda avl for the four-member delegation in response to the brutal & irrational behaviour of the Corrupt DMK Government.
The DMK government has only displayed fascist tendencies since it came to… pic.twitter.com/ukG1cpm7Mg
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) October 22, 2023
Purandeswari also mentioned a specific case, that of Amar Prasad Reddy, one of the coordinators of the yatra. To ensure he remained incarcerated, the police had reportedly filed four additional cases against him, while failing to act on complaints.
The delegation emphasised the gravity of the situation in Tamil Nadu, drawing parallels to the experiences of BJP cadres in West Bengal, where the party has faced numerous challenges and harassment by the state government. They contended that the Tamil Nadu police machinery is being exploited to fulfill the political aspirations of the DMK.
Commitment to Report to Party Leadership
The delegation underscored its commitment to incorporating all the information it had gathered, including what was seen and heard, into a comprehensive report to be presented to the BJP’s top leaders.
In an unprecedented move, the Tamil Nadu BJP has catalogued all the cases brought against BJP workers, preserving FIR copies in a tin box as evidence.
The BJP delegation’s public address highlights the escalating concerns and allegations regarding the treatment of BJP functionaries in Tamil Nadu. The delegation has expressed its determination to bring these issues to the forefront and involve the party’s national leadership in seeking a resolution. The ongoing situation remains a focal point in the state’s political landscape.
Annamalai said Police would never act on the complaints of the party or its workers with regard to hate, abusive speeches, or religious hatred. The police are trying to crush the BJP workers and cripple their activities.
The overavowed TN police went all the way to Noida-based media house looking for renowned journalist Abhijit Majumder, who had written a column against Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks, but took no action against the minister despite complaints. Even journalists and social media influencers are not spared by the DMK police. Party workers said “the use of JCB was to tell Muslims in Tamil Nadu we can use the same to pull down a flag pole like UP, which razes down structures of minorities.
