Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 22: Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has criticised the Centre over the Delhi Police action against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders, questioning the legality of preventive detention procedures and accusing the government of branding dissenters as “foreign agents” instead of addressing their concerns.
In a detailed post on social media, Annamalai defended the democratic right to protest, while clarifying that he disagreed with the CJP’s protest tactics and considered some of its approaches misguided.
“I do not agree with the CJP's protest tactics, and I find many of their approaches misguided. But if you ask me if they have the right to protest, argue or fight on an issue they consider important, I would definitely say yes!” he wrote on X, adding that he had quit the BJP on June 5, 2026.
Annamalai’s remarks came a day after he described the Delhi Police action against CJP as a “real disservice” and defended the organisation’s right to raise critical questions.
He raised five questions concerning the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, the powers exercised by police officers acting as Special Executive Magistrates, the handling of a bail hearing involving CJP members arrested on October 13, the rejection of eight sureties, and alleged use of pellet guns and other violations of standard operating procedures during the NEET protests.
Questioning the removal of Jantar Mantar’s status as a protest site after CJP sought permission to hold a demonstration, Annamalai said the detained CJP functionaries were released by the Special Executive Magistrate after the matter reached the High Court.
He also questioned whether the BJP’s criticism of CJP was helping the organisation gain publicity and political visibility.
“Is the BJP really opposing the CJP? Or is it providing free publicity for it? Does the BJP want to split the votes of the Opposition parties by projecting the CJP as a major political force?” he asked.
The BJP responded sharply, accusing Annamalai of changing his position on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls after leaving the party.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said Annamalai had previously defended the electoral roll revision exercise, maintained that Tamil Nadu had a large number of fake voters who needed to be removed, and criticised the DMK for opposing the process.
Thirupathy also referred to Annamalai’s public debate with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in May 2026, claiming that the former BJP leader had then supported SIR as a fair and necessary exercise and accused the Opposition of double standards.
“Today, after quitting the BJP, the same Annamalai has switched sides,” Thirupathy said, questioning his support for concerns raised by CJP and the Congress.
The BJP spokesperson also defended the Delhi Police, arguing that officers must intervene when protests cross legal boundaries or continue despite instructions to disperse.
Referring to Annamalai’s background as a former IPS officer, Thirupathy said he understood the responsibilities involved in maintaining law and order and accused him of inconsistency in criticising the police.
“Consistency matters, especially from someone who has been both a police officer and a senior political leader,” he said.
Annamalai, meanwhile, maintained that the government should respond to the questions raised by protesters even when their methods are disputed. He also cautioned against discrediting democratic institutions over alleged mistakes by individuals.