NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP) on Friday held a “Black Day procession” in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, to protest against what it called the “glorification of a terrorist.” Police detained BJP state president K Annamalai and leaders of other organizations who participated in the march.
The protest involved BJP members and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated groups, including Hindu Munnani, carrying banners accusing the state government of supporting “Coimbatore bomb blast terrorists.”
The criticism came after the state government allowed a funeral procession with police protection for SA Basha, the banned Al-Umma founder and a convict in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blast case. Basha, who was on parole, died recently due to age-related illness.
Police said the BJP was not given permission for the rally, and participants were detained for violating this order.
In a tweet, Annamalai said, “We condemn the cowardly act of the DMK government for arresting the leaders & cadres of BJP for carrying out a rally condemning the glorification of a terrorist who was the reason for the loss of 58 lives in the peace-loving city of Coimbatore in 1998. The DMK government should understand that the cadres of BJP will never bow down to such autocracy & we will always be the voice of the people of TN.”