Annamalai questions Centre’s SIR protest crackdown, defends PM after quitting BJPsup
India Today ·
On India Today's Super Six, anchor Akshita Nandagopal tracks major political developments from Tamil Nadu following former state BJP chief K. Annamalai's critique of the Centre's handling of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Having floated the movement We The Leaders after departing from the BJP, Annamalai clarified his stance, asserting that he remains supportive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but questions the government's crackdown on democratic protests. In a panel debate featuring political analyst Sumanth C. Raman, BJP leader Madhavanthi, and We The Leaders representative Dr Sudarshan Seshadri, panelists clash over Annamalai's shifting positions and long-term political strategy. Dr Seshadri defends the movement, stating that We The Leaders is focused on grassroots social work and training leaders rather than building conventional cadres, while confirming plans to contest local body polls. Additionally, the bulletin covers the Special Investigation Team's arrest of Archana Veeramani in the Gem Granites POCSO case and the arrest of a TVK functionary in Kanyakumari.