Delhi: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has backed Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, questioning Delhi Police’s handling of the case against them and expressing concern over their continued judicial custody.
Annamalai, who left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in June and subsequently launched his political outfit, We The Leaders, said he might disagree with some of the CJP’s protest methods but supported the questions raised by the party over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
His remarks come amid continuing legal proceedings against Das and Ranka, who have been protesting against the electoral roll revision and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Annamalai raises concerns over rule of law
Speaking about the case, Annamalai questioned the manner in which the police had dealt with the CJP leaders and said their treatment raised concerns about the rule of law.
“I have a feeling they (Delhi Police) have taken the law into their hands, and the judge gets recused,” he said.
Annamalai argued that disagreements over the party’s methods of protest should not influence the authorities’ treatment of its leaders. He warned that the continued detention of Das and Ranka could strengthen their political standing rather than weaken their movement.
“It is for the government to answer. But to arrest them for a violation and again to drag them in terms of how they spend their time in jail, that is only going to make the leaders of CJP stronger,” he said.
Describing the police’s handling of the case as a “real disservice”, Annamalai said the authorities needed to address the questions arising from the continued custody of the two leaders.
His comments mark a public intervention by the former BJP leader as he seeks to establish an independent political identity following his departure from the party.
Annamalai backs right to question SIR
Annamalai also addressed the wider political controversy surrounding the SIR exercise, saying opposition leaders had the right to question the revision of electoral rolls.
He specifically referred to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, stating that Gandhi was entitled to raise concerns about the process. However, Annamalai cautioned that political criticism should not lead to damage to public institutions.
“Rahul Gandhi has every right to question the SIR process, but institutional damage should not be caused,” he said.
The SIR exercise has become a point of contention, with the CJP among the groups questioning the revision process and demanding accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that eligible voters whose names have been wrongly deleted from electoral rolls can apply for re-enrolment.
Court extends CJP leaders’ judicial custody
Annamalai’s remarks came a day after a Delhi court extended the judicial custody of Das and Ranka by two days. The two leaders were detained following a protest at Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest venue.
According to the account of the incident, CJP workers entered the area, waved the national flag and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The leaders were subsequently detained after allegedly obstructing police personnel on duty.
The case has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the legal action taken against the protesters.
The leaders’ lawyer said their bail sureties were rejected because of a reported mismatch in documents. Das and Ranka were scheduled to be produced before the court on Wednesday.
Their continued detention has become a central issue for the CJP, which has maintained that the leaders were exercising their right to protest against the electoral roll revision.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticises Modi
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and praised Das and Ranka for remaining defiant despite spending five days in judicial custody.
In his remarks, Dipke criticised the police action against protesters and the use of barricades in Delhi.
“You must be feeling very strong keeping a 26-year-old Saurav Das in jail. You must be feeling very strong beating children on the streets. You must be feeling very strong putting up barricades across Delhi and dragging students on the streets,” Dipke said.
He claimed that Das and Ranka had gone to Jantar Mantar to wave the national flag but were subsequently sent to judicial custody. Dipke also alleged that hearings in their case had been repeatedly postponed.
“Is this strength? Hiding behind the police, hiding behind the courts, is this Narendra Modi’s strength?” he asked.
Dipke’s comments reflected the CJP’s broader criticism of the authorities’ response to its protests and its demands concerning the SIR process.
Political debate continues amid legal proceedings
The developments have brought renewed attention to the CJP’s campaign against the electoral roll revision and the treatment of its leaders following their protests in the national capital.
Annamalai’s intervention is also significant in the context of his political transition after leaving the BJP and launching We The Leaders. While expressing reservations about some of the CJP’s protest methods, he has questioned whether the authorities’ response has been proportionate.
The CJP continues to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over its objections to the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that eligible voters whose names have been wrongly removed can seek re-enrolment.
With the legal proceedings against Das and Ranka continuing, the case has become part of a wider debate over protest rights, police action and accountability in the electoral roll revision process.