During the ongoing ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ (My Land, My People) yatra conducted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Annamalai took the opportunity to express his criticism of the DMK government while undertaking his padayatra in the Erode (East) and Erode (West) Assembly constituencies.
#LIVE I குமரபாளையத்தின் குட்டி வீரர்களுடன் தலைவர் திரு. அண்ணாமலை அவர்கள்#Kumarapalayam #EnMannEnMakkal #Annamalai pic.twitter.com/UGSmPk7w21
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) October 27, 2023
Annamalai expressed that the current state of law and order within the region is quite dangerous, linking this to an intelligence failure on the part of the Police Department.
In response to the statement made by Chennai City Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore, asserting that the bomb was only thrown outside the Governor’s residence and not inside. Annamalai expressed his concern regarding the incident, “it shows the police department in a poor light.”
Arrest of Amar Prasad Reddy
The Tambram Police in Tamil Nadu recently detained Amar Prasad Reddy, a prominent member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and co-convenor of the En Mann En Makkal yatra (My Land, My People) movement.
Tamil Nadu: BJP leader and co-convenor of Annamalai's En Mann En Makkal yatra arrested over protesting against the removal of a flagpole in Chennaihttps://t.co/nREaWIXCFi
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) October 21, 2023
The arrest of the leader occurred due to their opposition towards the dismantling of a flagpole situated in the vicinity of Annamalai’s dwelling. According to Narayanan Thirupathy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president in Tamil Nadu, BJP leaders experienced a severe physical attack close to Annamalai’s residence in Chennai.
According to the Tambram Police, the erection of a 45-ft flag pole outside the compound wall of Annamalai’s house occurred without seeking prior permission from the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Six-Month Padayatra
The State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), K Annamalai, initiated a six-month padayatra, named En Mann En Makkal, commencing from the sacred town of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu on July 28. The yatra takes place around six months following the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
மக்களின் பேராதரவுடன் தலைவர் திரு. அண்ணாமலை அவர்கள்#EnMannEnMakkal #Annamalai#ErodeEast #ErodeWest pic.twitter.com/nKDe9QeOdC
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) October 27, 2023
The complete designation of padayatra is En Mann En Makkal – Prathamar Modiyin Tamil Muzhakkam, which translates to “My land, My People – Prime Minister Modi’s Tamil Slogan.”
சங்ககிரி சொந்தங்களே!
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) October 27, 2023
இன்று தலைவர் திரு.அண்ணாமலை அவர்கள் உங்களைச் சந்திக்க வருகிறார்.#Sangagiri #EnMannEnMakkal#Annamalai pic.twitter.com/tPzqJbvAcG
Amit Shah’s Master Plan
On the first day, the padayatra was officially launched by Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, who proceeded to walk alongside Annamalai and many other leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a distance of around half a kilometre.
தலைவர்களின் ஆசிர்வாதமும் மக்களின் பேராதரவும் கொண்ட தலைவர் திரு. அண்ணாமலை அவர்கள்#ErodeEast #ErodeWest #EnMannEnMakkal #Annamalai pic.twitter.com/us9zSHnlG9
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) October 27, 2023
The pilgrimage, spanning a distance of 1,770 kilometres, will cover the entirety of Tamil Nadu’s 39 parliamentary constituencies and 234 assembly districts. Its culmination is planned to take place in Chennai on January 11, 2024. Annamalai and other members affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are expected to walk a distance exceeding 1,068 kilometres on foot, while the remaining portion of the journey will be undertaken using vehicular transportation.
Phases of Padayatra
The journey is being conducted in five distinct phases, spanning a total duration of 168 days. According to BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, at least 11 public meetings have been scheduled, during which Union ministers and national BJP officials will participate, as conveyed to the media.
இடைவெளிக்குப் பிறகு நடைப்பயணம் மீண்டும் தொடரும் 🔥#EnMannEnMakkal #Annamalai pic.twitter.com/jNKaDmIbcE
— En Mann En Makkal (@EnMannEnMakkal) October 24, 2023
The inaugural stage of the pilgrimage, initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rameshwaram on July 28, concluded on August 22. In the initial phase, Annamalai had the task of covering a total of 41 Assembly constituencies located in the Southern districts.