Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Engages in Self-Flagellation as Protest Against Anna University Assault
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Chennai, Dec 27 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai whipped himself six times outside his residence in Coimbatore on Friday morning as part of a personal protest against the sexual assault of an Anna University student.
Earlier, Annamalai announced that he would engage in this symbolic act as a demonstration against the incident.
He also pledged to refrain from wearing slippers until the DMK government is ousted from power in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP leader expressed his intention to pray at all six temples dedicated to Lord Muruga, a revered war deity in southern India.
A former IPS officer, Annamalai has taken a bold stance as the leader of the Tamil Nadu BJP, frequently criticizing the ruling DMK government.
He condemned the police for leaking the FIR related to the sexual assault case, which led to the identification of the 19-year-old victim, who is an engineering student at Anna University.
Annamalai accused the authorities of deliberately disclosing the details and failing to protect the safety and anonymity of the survivor.
The BJP president further alleged that the accused, Gnanashekaran, was not listed as a rowdy by the police, despite having multiple criminal cases against him.
He claimed this was due to Gnanashekaran’s connections with DMK leaders and provided evidence to support the accused’s affiliation with the ruling party.
Additionally, Annamalai accused the DMK of trying to distract from the worsening law and order situation in Tamil Nadu by promoting a false narrative about a North-South divide.
The incident took place when the victim and her male friend were seated in a secluded area of the Anna University campus after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church.
Gnanashekaran reportedly assaulted the male friend and then dragged the girl to a nearby shrub, where he raped her.
The Chennai Police have faced significant backlash for their security failures, despite previous claims that extensive safety measures were in place for Christmas celebrations, involving the deployment of over 8,000 officers.
