WATCH: TN BJP chief Annamalai gets into heated argument with Christian men, booked for promoting ‘religious enmity’
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai had visited Lourdes Church when he was confronted by some youths from the Christian community who objected to his visit.
Tami Nadu News: Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai was booked on Thursday for promoting “religious enmity”, days after the saffron party leader got into a fight with some Christian youths who tried to stop him from entering a church in Dharmapuri district.
On January 8, Annamalai had visited Lourdes Church when he was confronted by some youths from the Christian community who objected to his visit, resulting in an argument between the BJP leader and the young men.
A video of the altercation that had gone viral on social media showed the Tamil Nadu BJP chief “explaining” the Manipur issue to the youth during the heated argument.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
@annamalai_kJi was not allowed to visit a church in Dharmapuri.
This type of behavior is an unacceptable violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
TN needs change @BJP4India @BJP4TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/cKCriBZNW1
— Gev. Srinath. Iyengar (@SriIyengar) January 8, 2024
‘Don’t speak like DMK. This is a public place. What rights do you have to stop me? What would you do if I gathered 10,000 people and organized a dharna?,” Annamalai is heard saying in the viral video.
The locals had raised the issue of Manipur and the travails of Christians in the northeastern state. When Annamalai entered the church, a group of youths opposed his entry citing the Manipur issue and raised slogans against him, police said.
Eventually, thanks to police intervention, Annamalai was able to garland the statue of Mother Mary and also offer prayers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Annamalai had visited the Christian shrine in B Pallipatti area under Harur assembly segment during his ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ yatra in Dharmapuri district.
Reacting to the incident, the state BJP unit has claimed that young men who opposed Annamalai’s entry into the church belonged to the ruling DMK.
Case against Annamalai
Meanwhile, police in the state’s Dharmapuri district on Thursday registered an FIR against Annamalai for allegedly promoting religious hatred.
According to police, the case was registered against the state BJP chief after a complaint was filed by a local resident named Karthik and after taking legal advice. The FIR was registered at Bommidi police station, they said.
IPC sections 153 A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion etc.) and 504 (provocation to cause breach of public peace) have been invoked against Annamalai, besides another section (505, subsection 2) which deals with promoting of hatred, a police official said.
The Tamil Nadu BJP has condemned the DMK government for the legal action taken against Annamalai, alleging that the ruling dispensation was in fact the ones promoting religious hatred.
(With input from agencies)