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Journalism of Courage
AFTER A brief interlude, including a surprise sojourn in distant UK, the irrepressible Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has barged his way back into the news. Seizing on an alleged sexual assault incident at Anna University in Chennai to take on the DMK government, Annamalai on Friday flogged himself six times as a mark of protest – like he said he would.
His other vow, announced Thursday, was that he would not wear footwear until the DMK was ousted from power – and, accordingly, he was barefoot during his self-lashing.
While Annamalai has made dramatic statements earlier – with the brashness of the young leader giving the BJP just the right kind of visibility in a state where it was non-existent – few expected him to go ahead with the flagellation, which holds powerful symbolism as an act of penance. Even his resolve to go barefoot has a parallel in popular Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram, in which the protagonist vows not to wear footwear until he exacts revenge.
Outrageous as it may be, Annamalai’s gesture has already helped the BJP seize the initiative on the sexual assault case. Despite protests over the issue, the AIADMK, the main opposition party, has failed to take the lead on it.
While the accused, allegedly a habitual offender, was quickly traced and arrested, Annamalai has lambasted the police for its error in sharing details of the victim in the FIR. “This is a disgrace,” he said. “Where did the Nirbhaya Fund go? Why was there no CCTV camera on the campus?”
He has also shared photos of the accused with top DMK leaders, forcing the ruling party to clarify that he held no positions in the party.
Making his resolution Thursday, Annamalai said: “Until the DMK is removed from power, I will not wear any footwear… I am going to whip myself six times in front of my house at 10 am tomorrow. What we call whipping and sattaiadi in Tamil is a surrender to a higher power… I have taken this decision after much consideration because I believe, after all the hard work of the party and the cadre, it is important to surrender yourself to a larger power and leave the larger power to take care of things.”
He also said: “In February second week, I am going to visit all the six Arupadai Veedu (Lord Muruga’s six abodes), and complain to Murugan about the situation in Tamil Nadu.”
Annamalai’s attack on the DMK coincides with him cooling down on the AIADMK since his return to active politics. His aggression against the AIADMK earlier forced the latter to rule out any tie-up with the BJP, which is believed to have affected the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Last week, asked whether the AIADMK and BJP may tie up again before the Assembly polls, Annamalai said: “There is plenty of time to decide on alliances.”
This conciliatory tone also comes against the backdrop of Vijay, the actor-turned-politician, emerging as a new force in Tamil Nadu politics. Vijay’s party has targeted both the BJP and DMK, leaving the AIADMK alone. Its rise could further marginalise the BJP in the state.
A top RSS leader said while Annamalai’s actions may not yield any immediate electoral benefits, they solidify his image as that of “a penitent warrior” and resonate with the voters, especially those with religious leanings who sometimes feel alienated in the state’s Dravidian politics.
