"I did not seek separate state for Tamil Nadu," says VCK leader; BJP seeks police action against him
Aug 31, 2022
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 31 : Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has urged for action, including the filing of a police case against VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) Deputy General Secretary Vaani Arasu for a purported hate speech.
The VCK is an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai has tweeted a 53-second video in which Vaani Arasu is purportedly heard demanding that Tamil Nadu break off from India.
K Annamalai tweeted, "Tamil Nadu is slipping towards a dangerous path with divisive forces taking centre stage, and the clueless Government is encouraging it without knowing the consequences! Their alliance leaders-with MPs and MLAs in their party-speaking the language of separation as they don't have anything worthy to bring it to the people's stage."
The BJP leader has also called for an FIR to be filed against the VCK leader.
However, Vaani Arasu said that Annamalai had misinterpreted his words.
"State BJP chief Annamalai said that action should be taken against me for my speech on Tamil Nadu. He should listen to the full speech and think before speaking. I had said that TN is a unique state, I didn't seek a separate state," Arasu said on Tuesday.
"It is our state Governor who said Ram Rajya is needed which is against our Constitution. The action should be taken against him and not me," Arasu told ANI.
Meanwhile, in the video tweeted by Annamalai, Vaani Arasu is purportedly heard saying, "One year time period from August 17 of this year to the next August 17, we will expand this movement by going to various villages against the Sanatana Dharma. For this we will get acquainted with youths by way of taking Thanthai Periyar and B.R. Ambedkar to them. We don't care if we lose our lives in the process of fighting the Sanatana Dharma. Viduthalai Chiruthaigai Katchi is on the ground to make Tamil Nadu a holistic Tamil Nadu by defeating the Sanatana Dharma."
In the video the VCK leader is purportedly heard saying, "On that note, on this remembrance day of Sangodi Freedom! Tamil Nadu's absolute freedom and the Tamil people's rights to attain a unique (separate) statehood to Tamil Nadu from the Union Of India should be our oath and responsibility to Sengodi. I take leave by Saluting Sengodi."
Vidulthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is an Indian social movement and political party previously known as Dalit Panthers of India in the 1980s.
