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The Tamil Nadu Governor’s office on Tuesday clarified that no nod has been given to prosecute Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai for his alleged comments against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) founder and former Chief Minister CN Annadurai.
The clarification comes after the MK Stalin-led government issued an order to prosecute Annamalai on charges of promoting enmity between different groups (153A(2), imputation and assertions prejudicial to national integration (153B(b)(c)), and statements conducing to public mischief (IPC 505(i)(iii)).
Annamalai allegedly made a controversial comment about Annadurai in September 2023, during a demonstration against state minister PK Sekar Babu for his participation in the ‘Sanatana Dharma’ eradication conference.
The BJP leader said Anna had, in the 1950s, made a critical remark in Madurai against the Hindu faith at an event, and that it was staunchly opposed by freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.
Though he later claimed that he did not speak ill of Anna and had only mentioned some historical episodes, the statements invited loud criticism from both the ruling DMK and AIADMK.
The AIADMK had highlighted these remarks as a reason for snapping its alliance ties with BJP in Tamil Nadu.
The Government Order was issued based on a complaint by social activist Piyush Manush, who called the remarks hate speech.
Sharing a copy of the order on X, Annamalai, wrote on Sunday, “In the last 3 years, the draconian DMK Govt has filed plenty of cases against me and our BJP Karyakarthas for speaking the truth & has recently issued a sanction to prosecute me yet again.”
As the Government Order stated ‘By order of the Governor’, reports emerged claiming that the sanction order was issued by the Governor.
In response, Raj Bhavan said, “It is hereby informed that Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu is not aware of criminal case against Annamalai and has not issued any sanction order”.
