Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has clarified that his criticism of the Centre’s handling of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) should not be interpreted as support for the Abhijeet Dipke-led outfit.
Speaking at an event organised by his ‘We the Leaders’ movement on Thursday, Annamalai said his political agenda was different from that of the CJP but maintained that every political group had the democratic right to protest and raise questions.
“We never support the Cockroach Janta Party. Their agenda is different, and ours is different,” Annamalai said.
‘Every Political Party Has the Right to Fight’
While distancing himself from the CJP, Annamalai defended its right to challenge the government through democratic means.
He said that if protesters had violated the law, authorities should take action through proper legal procedures rather than adopting what he described as a vindictive approach.
“We believe that arrests must be carried out in accordance with the law and due procedure,” he said.
Annamalai had earlier said that he disagreed with several of the CJP’s tactics and considered some of them “misguided”, but strongly supported its right to oppose, argue and protest on issues it considered important.
‘No One Needs to Lecture Me on Patriotism’
The former IPS officer also responded to criticism from his former party over his remarks on the protests.
Annamalai said his experience of living and working across different parts of India had given him an understanding of the country’s unity and sovereignty and that he did not need lessons on patriotism.
He also questioned attempts to portray dissent or criticism of the government as automatically anti-national or linked to foreign interests.
“If there is a threat to the country’s sovereignty, you have all the institutions — IB, RAW. Use them, put them behind bars. Do not manufacture bogeys on Twitter,” he said.
At the same time, he cautioned against undermining public confidence in democratic institutions such as the Election Commission and the Supreme Court.
Praises Modi, But Says Government Can Still Be Questioned
Annamalai also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a “good PM” who was doing good work.
However, he added that supporting the Prime Minister did not mean remaining silent when he believed the government had acted wrongly.
“While supporting the Prime Minister, we will not hesitate to question anything we believe is wrong,” he said.
Row Began Over Arrest of CJP Leaders
The controversy erupted after Annamalai criticised the treatment of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were detained following protests over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
Annamalai raised questions about preventive detention procedures, the rejection of sureties and the role of Special Executive Magistrates in the case.
Das and Ranka were subsequently released after spending seven days in custody and giving undertakings to maintain peace and not call for protests at Jantar Mantar while it remained de-notified as a protest venue.
Annamalai Invokes Modi’s 2011 Remarks
Annamalai also referred to remarks made by Narendra Modi in 2011, when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister and had criticised police action against anti-corruption protesters at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.
According to Annamalai, Modi had said that if his hands were not tied, he would have gone to Delhi and “waged a war” against the then central government.
Annamalai said Modi had been right to speak out at the time and questioned why similar scrutiny of the current government was attracting criticism and arrests.
‘Is BJP Giving CJP Free Publicity?’
Annamalai also questioned whether the BJP’s aggressive response to the CJP was inadvertently helping the outfit gain national visibility.
He referred to a cockroach effigy being burnt during Dussehra celebrations at an event associated with BJP MLA Ashok Goel.
“Is the BJP opposing the CJP or giving it free publicity?” he asked.
He also accused the central government of repeatedly “manufacturing an enemy” despite having been in power for more than a decade — an assessment that reflects Annamalai’s political criticism rather than an established fact.
BJP Hits Back at Former Leader
Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy sharply rejected Annamalai’s criticism, arguing that it blurred the distinction between peaceful protest and alleged violations of law.
Thirupathy said CJP leaders had been denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar but later allegedly climbed gates and barricades, entered the de-notified protest site and violated previously executed peace bonds.
According to the BJP spokesperson, the subsequent custody and legal proceedings were linked to those alleged violations, not simply to the expression of political dissent.
He said democratic rights include the right to protest but do not permit people to ignore police conditions, legal undertakings or restrictions once permission has been denied.
Annamalai Left BJP in June
Annamalai left the BJP on June 5, 2026, and later launched his own political initiative.
Amid the current controversy, he has repeatedly reminded his former colleagues that he is no longer a member of the party and is free to question the Centre.
The latest exchange has now developed into a broader political debate over the right to protest, due process in preventive detention and the limits authorities can impose on demonstrations.
Annamalai’s position remains that he does not support the CJP’s political agenda but believes its members should be allowed to raise questions within the framework of the law. The BJP maintains that the recent police action concerned alleged law-breaking rather than an attempt to suppress peaceful dissent.
