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Why Annamalai's tribute to Periyar brought back his BJP-time flogging video
Why Annamalais tribute to Periyar brought back his BJPtime flogging video
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai's tribute to social reformer Periyar has brought his self-flagellation video from 2024 into the spotlight. His description of Periyar as a leader who fought against 'inequalities and superstitions' is being seen by some as a change of stance.
For former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, a tribute to Dravida Kazhagam (DK) founder EV Ramasamy Naicker (EVR), or Periyar, has brought an old video of the BJP leader back into focus. On Periyar's 147th birth anniversary, the IPS officer-turned-politician praised the Dravidian icon for fighting "inequalities and superstitions". These mentions have prompted some critics to juxtapose Annamalai's post with the religious act of self-flagellation he performed less than two years ago while he was in the BJP.
Annamalai posted on X on Thursday, describing Periyar as someone who "played a pivotal role in social reform movements" and left "an indelible impact on the social and political history of Tamil Nadu".
