Annamalai Defends CJP Protest Rights, Rejects Tactics
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has defended the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) right to protest while distancing his political organisation, We The Leaders, from the group’s objectives and methods. Speaking on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Annamalai said he disagreed with several CJP protest tactics but maintained that political differences should not prevent citizens from exercising their democratic rights.
Annamalai Rules Out Supporting CJP’s Political Agenda
Annamalai clarified that We The Leaders would not support CJP because the two organisations pursued different objectives.
The former IPS officer described several of CJP’s protest methods as misguided but argued that the organisation retained the right to oppose government policies and raise issues it considered important.
His remarks followed controversy over demonstrations targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Delhi Police’s handling of protesters.
Annamalai Questions Delhi Police Detentions
Annamalai criticised the detention of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who spent seven days in custody following proceedings before a special executive magistrate.
He questioned the powers exercised by police officers in preventive detention cases and raised concerns about procedural safeguards.
He also challenged restrictions on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and questioned whether police had followed established procedures during earlier NEET-related protests.
Former BJP Leader Questions Government’s Protest Response
Annamalai argued that prolonged detention could increase public sympathy for CJP leaders rather than weaken their organisation.
He also questioned whether political attacks against the group were inadvertently providing it with greater publicity.
Referring to a cockroach effigy burned during Dussehra celebrations, Annamalai identified BJP MLA Ashok Goel as having led the event.
The former BJP leader, who left the party in June 2026, maintained that disagreements over protest methods should remain separate from questions concerning constitutional rights and police accountability.
