Meanwhile, Annamalai challenged the authorities to arrest him, even as he claimed leaders from the DMK and its allies were the real culprits.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai. (Supplied)
The Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police on Sunday, 5 March, booked state BJP chief K Annamalai for instigating hatred and provocation of violence by peddling disinformation on the migrant workers’ issue.
Meanwhile, Annamalai challenged the authorities to arrest him.
According to cops, the Cyber Crime Wing filed an FIR against the BJP leader under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), 153(1)(a) (promoting or attempting to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different groups or communities), 505(1)(b) (intent to cause fear or alarm to the public), and 505(1)(c).
Annamalai on Saturday released a statement on the migrant labourers’ issue, saying that they were safe in Tamil Nadu, but the DMK and its alliance partners had been indulging in hate campaigns against them.
In his statement, Annamalai stated it was disheartening to see fake news spread in social media about attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu.
DMK MPs’ vile comments on North Indians, a DMK minister calling them panipuri wala (panipuri vendor), and their alliance partners demanding their exodus “have triggered what we see today”, he said.
“The people, the Government & the Police, do not endorse the views of DMK & their alliance partners [sic],” he wrote on Twitter.
He further said that the divide the DMK always stood for was coming back to haunt it, and it was now the DMK’s responsibility to fix the situation.
He said this was an opportunity for the party that is currently in power in Tamil Nadu to put an end to its defunct propaganda.
Speaking to South First, a top police official said that while the state government was trying to bring the situation under control, Annamalai blaming the ruling government would worsen the situation.
“After legal consultation, a case has been registered [against him] based on the statement he issued,” the official said.
He also stated that Annamalai would be summoned by the Cyber Crime Wing to give his explanation.
“Based on the explanation, the next course of action will be taken in accordance with the law”, he said.
Reacting sharply against the FIR, Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Thirupathy Narayanan told South First that it was Velmurugan, the MLA and President of the DMK ally Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi, who was spreading hate against the migrant workers for the past one and a half years.
“Several DMK ministers and their propagating YouTube channels were continuously calling and teasing the North Indian migration workers as panipuri walas and vadakkans (a derogatory term used in some South Indian states for North Indians). Let the government take action against them,” he said.
Narayanan also condemned the government for the case registered against Annamalai.
Taking to Twitter, Annamalai challenged the authorities to arrest him.
In his tweet, Annamalai shared a video clip of DMK frontline leaders speaking on the migrant workers’ issue, and challenged the “Fascist DMK” to arrest him.
I understand DMK has filed cases against me for exposing their 7-decade propaganda against North Indian brothers.
So, here is the video of what they spoke, which was mentioned in my press release yesterday.
I challenge Fascist DMK to arrest me! pic.twitter.com/U3ZwbXmSSG
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 5, 2023
Earlier, Stalin warned of stringent action against those who spread rumours and cause fear and panic among the migrant workers.
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