Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has criticised the BJP-led Union government over its handling of protests and dissent, questioning why a government that has been in power for more than 12 years continues to portray its opponents as enemies.
Annamalai, who left the BJP in June to launch his own political outfit, We The Leaders, made the remarks in a series of posts on X while commenting on the police action against Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters in Delhi.
“I have a feeling the central government forgets it’s been in power in Delhi for 12 plus years and still manufactures an enemy at all times to keep itself relevant. Sadly, that’s a pity!” he wrote.
His criticism extended beyond the detention of protesters, raising questions about preventive detention, the right to peaceful assembly and the tendency to label government critics as anti-national.
Annamalai Invokes Modi’s 2011 Remarks
In his post on October 21, Annamalai recalled Narendra Modi’s response to the police crackdown on an anti-corruption protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan in 2011, when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister.
Annamalai said Modi was right to criticise the action at the time and contrasted that position with what he described as the present treatment of demonstrators and government critics.
“Today, you could be jailed indefinitely; your surety bonds could be rejected; and, surprisingly, a Special Executive Magistrate will play circles around you when he/she is empowered to deal with preventive bond cases,” he wrote.
His remarks referred to the detention of CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka following a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 13. Both were subsequently released after a magistrate accepted their written undertakings to maintain peace.
Annamalai also said that questioning alleged violations of due process could lead to personal attacks and accusations of acting as a foreign agent.
Questions BJP’s Response to CJP
Annamalai also questioned whether the BJP was inadvertently giving CJP greater publicity by publicly opposing the group.
He referred to the burning of a cockroach effigy during Dussehra celebrations in Delhi, reportedly led by BJP MLA Ashok Goel, and asked whether the party’s actions were helping CJP gain national visibility.
“Is the BJP opposing the CJP or giving it free publicity? Does it want the opposition votes to split by making the CJP a bigger player?” he asked.
He added that CJP could hardly have asked for a better public relations team.
BJP Leaders Hit Back at Annamalai
Annamalai’s comments drew criticism from BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, who defended the government’s responsibility to maintain public order while allowing peaceful demonstrations.
Tamil Nadu BJP secretary Vinoj P Selvam argued that citizens had the right to oppose the government, but authorities could also enforce lawful restrictions. He said Modi’s 2011 remarks alone could not determine whether police action in 2026 was lawful.
Selvam also challenged Annamalai’s claims regarding restrictions at Jantar Mantar, the role of Special Executive Magistrates and the scrutiny of sureties. He called on Annamalai to produce evidence of specific procedural violations.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy questioned Annamalai’s position on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged that Annamalai had previously supported the exercise and criticised the DMK for opposing it, but was now questioning the government’s approach alongside CJP and Opposition leaders.
BJP worker Karthik Gopinath also disputed Annamalai’s comparison between the current protests and the 2011 Ramlila Maidan crackdown, arguing that the circumstances were different. He further accused Annamalai of amplifying CJP’s arguments through his public criticism.
Annamalai Rejects ‘Anti-National’ Labels
Annamalai also criticised the tendency to attribute anti-government protests to foreign influence. He argued that the government had investigative agencies and legal mechanisms to examine allegations of links between Indian nationals and foreign adversaries.
“Enough of this anti-national thing,” he wrote, questioning the repeated suggestion that demonstrations against government policies were backed by external forces.
He also addressed the Congress and CJP, arguing that criticism of alleged wrongdoing should not automatically translate into a rejection of democratic institutions as a whole.
The exchange highlights a growing public disagreement between Annamalai and BJP leaders over protest restrictions, electoral-roll revision and the boundaries of political dissent. While Annamalai has questioned the Centre’s approach, BJP representatives have defended lawful enforcement of public-order restrictions and challenged his interpretation of the events.