TN BJP leader makes startling comments on curbing media, draws flak

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party state leader K Annamalai said media houses can be controlled within six months since it will be brought under the control of L Murugan who is now Minister for Information and Broadcasting to halt the spread of false news against BJP in the state. Strongly reacting to it, DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj took to Twitter to term Annamalai's statement as 'intimidating' and 'highly condemnable'.

Trichy: Sparking a row, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party leader K Annamalai said media can be curbed within six months since it will be brought under the control of ex-BJP state president L Murugan and now the Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Union cabinet. Former IPS officer-turned-politician made these scathing remarks during a roadshow from Coimbatore to Chennai on Wednesday. "Stop worrying about false reports appearing about our party in various media outlets. Within six months, you will see the media coming under the control of our party leader L Murugan who is now the Minister for Information and Broadcasting. Every media outlet will come under him. Henceforth, false information cannot be spread as news for political gains," said Annamalai. Slamming Annamalai's remarks, DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj took to Twitter and wrote "Annamalai statement in an intimidating one. It is highly condemnable."

BJP extends support to state on Mekedatu project

Amid the tussle between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Mekedatu dam project, Tamil Nadu BJP has extended support to state government. K Annamalai said that the party will stand by the state government's decision on the issue.

Further, he said, farmers in the state will not get affected. As per the Supreme Court's order, Cauvery river water should be available here and we will not politicize the issue, he said and added that Nainar Nagendran, VP Duraisamy from the BJP participated in the all-party meeting on the issue. Even though, BJP is ruling party in Karnataka, we will stand by the farmers in Tamil Nadu, he added.

Commenting on Kongu Nadu demand which created ripples in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai said BJP leader Murugan referred to Kongu Nadu as he belongs to that region. But, media is exaggerating it. Regarding Uniform Civil Code, he said it is not anti-Islamic. Politicians who manipulate and divide Islamists are spreading rumours that the law is anti-Islamic.

Annamalai also made startling remark that 70% of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders and workers got vaccinated, while only 30% of the people were administered the vaccine. Tamil Nadu has received more vaccine doses compared to its actual need but DMK is hiding the fact and complaining about shortage of vaccine, he said.