Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said on May 12 that the Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government had approved his prosecution for recounting an incident from 1956 involving DMK founder C N Annadurai and freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthu Ramalinga Thevar.
Taking his social media handle X, K Annamalai shared a copy of the government sanction, saying, “In the last 3 years, the draconian DMK Govt has filed plenty of cases against me & our BJP Karyakarthas for speaking the truth & has recently issued a sanction to prosecute me yet again.” He added that the sanction was for recalling a historical event.
He said, “I wholeheartedly thank the DMK Government for allowing us to recall what Deiva Thirumaganar Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar said in 1956, which they wish to erase from people’s memories. Our message to the DMK Government: You can’t stop us from exposing what is what. File as many cases as you want.”
In the last 3 years, the draconian DMK Govt has filed plenty of cases against me & our BJP Karyakarthas for speaking the truth & has recently issued a sanction to prosecute me yet again.
Issue sanctions to prosecute for recalling an event in the past & awarding plum party… pic.twitter.com/jfuDHXSdXH
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 12, 2024
The Tamil Nadu BJP leader said, “Issue sanctions to prosecute for recalling an event in the past and award plum party positions to Drug peddlers reflects the true nature of this DMK Government in Tamil Nadu.”
When demanding the resignation of Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu over the Sanatana Dharma controversy, Annamalai made this alleged hate speech. Addressing a protest rally in Chennai on September 11, Annamalai recalled an incident that reportedly took place in 1956 at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, where he claimed that freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar threatened former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai for his comments on Hindu gods.
He had claimed that Muthuramalinga Thevar questioned Annadurai for speaking ill of Goddess Umaiyaval (Meenakshi Amman) at a temple event. Annamalai recalled, “Annadurai hid in Madurai because Muthuramalinga Thevar was angry. Muthuramaligna Thevar further said that if someone is a non-believer and speaks ill about gods, instead of milk abhishekam, there will be blood abhishekam at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. Annadurai and PT Rajan apologised and ran away”.
The sanction for prosecution was given under Section 196 of the CrPc, which necessitates prior government approval for offences like promoting enmity (Sec 153 A, IPC). The order followed a request from Piyush Manush, a self-styled “eco-warrior” and DMK propagandist, to the District Collector of Salem.
By a recent directive from the Supreme Court regarding hate speeches, the Tamil Nadu government, led by the DMK, has granted authorization to prosecute K Annamalai, the state president of the BJP, and YouTuber Rajavel Nagarajan of the Pesu Tamizha Pesu channel. This action is based on a complaint filed by self-styled “eco-warrior” and DMK propagandist Piyush Manush. The DMK Government sent the file to the Governor’s office last October.
The news is out that sanction is given by the TN government to prosecute @annamalai_k avl . The pertinent question is did the governor @rajbhavan_tn give sanction to this or has the government done it using governors name or without his consent?! This will be tested in the courts… pic.twitter.com/xzoudYyjgd
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) October 27, 2023
Clarifying his stance, Annamalai stressed that he did not disparage Annadurai but highlighted a historical event. He supported his statement with news reports from June 1956, indicating the context of the Tamil Sangam event. He said, “Look at history as history. I am obvious. Nowhere will I belittle anyone. I did not insult or underestimate anyone, anywhere; history should be spoken as it was,and , if it is not liked (by some people), it’s okay.”
Critics point out, “Despite his clarification the government is hell bent on prosecuting Annamalai with an intention of arresting him to from strongly emerging a stumbling block for DMK’s rule and growth. He has been exposing DMK’s corrupt activities that gains public acceptance. If the DMK government wants to take action against hate speeches in true spirit, then it should start with its leader like CM MK Stalin, A Raja, Kanimozhi, Udhayanidhi Stalin, RS Bharati, DK leader K Veeramani, VCK leader Thirumavalavan, Christian pastors like Ezra Sargunam, Mohan C Lazrus, DMK platform speakers, Muslim outfit leaders for their Hindu phobic, anti-Hindu speeches and issuing threats to PM Modi , HM Amit Shah and RSS promukhs. It is like Satan preaching hymns”.
