Annamalai was adamant that he would not apologise for using the word 'monkey' at a press conference, since the reference was not to one particular reporter but directed at the media with reporters jumping at him like monkeys to shoot questions at him without allowing him to speak.
Coimbatore: Special pujas were performed at the Kottai Easwaran Temple in Coimbatore on Monday, in which the BJP State President Annamalai participated and offered prayers.
Speaking to reporters after the pujas, Annamalai was irked when media persons kept shooting questions at him and asked them why they were behaving like monkeys. This led to a furore amidst the media who demanded an apology from Annamalai. But Annamalai was adamant that he would not apologise for using the word 'monkey' at a press conference since the reference was not to one particular reporter but directed at the entire media since reporters were akin to monkeys jumping at him and shooting questions at him without allowing him to speak.
Earlier, Annamalai expressed that a major disaster had been prevented in Coimbatore and that they owed a debt of gratitude to the gods, Kottai Easwaran and Murugan for protecting the city of Coimbatore. "We have sung the Kandha Sashti Kavasam together with the people of Coimbatore for religious harmony, religious unity and for the people of Coimbatore to make life's journey better," he added.
Annamalai stated, "A car cylinder exploded near the Kottai Easwaran temple in Coimbatore on October 23, a day ahead of Diwali. Political parties and journalists have been talking about the incident for the last eight days. After the 1998 bomb blasts, Coimbatore's growth has not been up to the mark, and taken a hit after the blasts. For the last 10 years, it is the people and industrialists in Coimbatore who have been taking Coimbatore forward. Had this suicide attack actually taken place this time, Coimbatore district would have gone back another 20 years. The first guardian deities to stop this are the police who are now here. The police have risked their lives to prevent any auxiliary attack. Therefore, I would like to thank the Coimbatore City Police. The people of Coimbatore are united even though the casteists are trying to divide on the basis of religion. After the incident on October 23, even the Muslim clerics in Coimbatore have put forward good ideas. People in Coimbatore should not take violence into their own hands. That is my appeal, and that those who take up violence should not be encouraged."
"All the questions we have raised with the State Government are to ensure that the State Government should do well, and not to blame the State Government or harass them," he added.
During the media interaction, Annamalai exhibited to the media some of the bomb raw materials seized during the incident. "What is the reason for the police to say it was a cylinder explosion? How can it be accepted? The clerics in Islam themselves say that ISIS is a wrong ideology. Therefore, we should not leave them alone or be angry with the Muslim community. I will also be meeting the Muslim clerics soon. There has been some negligence by the police. The Intelligence agencies have missed the task of tracking some people. The workload in the police force is also high since there is also a shortage of manpower. The Central Government has already warned of a single wolf attack. Also, the police should never go under the control of the Central Government. We, the BJP will not take it as an opportunity and talk about it. We will not say that the Central Government should intervene in this. The BJP does not want to do politics or benefit from this incident," reiterated Annamalai.
He also emphasised that the NIA need not call the latest incident in Coimbatore as an intended terrorist attack at the moment. "The Tamil Nadu Government has not mentioned why it is a terrorist attack. As far as the announcement is concerned, the leader can only be held responsible if he is told from the party's office. But, this was decided by some organisations of the district administrators.
In 2022, we ourseles have held 14 protests. At the same time, there have been protests in various districts that were held without our permission. Tamil Nadu needs a strong AIADMK and it is the cadres who decide that. Therefore, I have no right to comment on the AIADMK party," concluded Annamalai.