Annamalai Disagrees With CJP Tactics But Backs Its Right To Protest
What Happened
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai criticised the Centre and Delhi Police over action against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters, raising concerns about due process and preventive detention. He said that people questioning due-process violations were being attacked and labelled “foreign agents.” Annamalai stressed that he disagrees with many of CJP’s tactics but firmly supports its right to protest and raise questions. He said the government should answer those questions rather than resort to arrests. The BJP hit back, saying the right to protest does not provide freedom to break the law and accusing Annamalai of blurring the distinction between peaceful protest and deliberate law-breaking.
Key Takeaways
The row centres on the balance between the democratic right to dissent and enforcement of protest rules, with Annamalai defending CJP’s right to raise questions while distancing himself from its protest tactics.