The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai reaffirmed on Monday that the late AIADMK supremo and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was a Hindutva leader. He stated that the term Hindutva is often misunderstood in the state and highlighted her support for the Ram temple, Uniform Civil Code, and the abrogation of Article 370.
Speaking to reporters, Annamalai said, “Jayalalithaa was an ardent follower of Hindutva.” He welcomed a debate on the issue with AIADMK, asserting that those uncertain about Hindutva could refer to the 1995 Supreme Court judgment by Justice J S Verma, which defined Hindutva as a way of life.
“In Tamil Nadu, Hindutva is distorted,” Annamalai said, quoting the Supreme Court’s verdict. “Hindutva means taking along everybody, not just relying on Hinduism.” He elaborated that his understanding of Hindutva comes from this judgment, emphasizing that the BJP is not an enemy to any community.
Citing historical instances, Annamalai mentioned that on July 26, 1984, Jayalalithaa had demanded the abrogation of Article 370 in Rajya Sabha. He also recalled her statements at the 1992 National Integration Council meeting, where she supported Kar Seva and opposed the dismissal of three BJP-led state governments after the Babri Masjid demolition. In 1993, she organized a signature campaign favoring the construction of the Ram Temple and questioned if a temple for Lord Ram couldn’t be built in India, where else it could be built.
Annamalai criticized current AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had cited leg pain as a reason for potentially not attending the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. He pointed out Jayalalithaa’s previous support for the Uniform Civil Code, her enactment of an anti-conversion law (later rescinded), and the establishment of a Veda patashala as further evidence of her Hindutva alignment.
He also highlighted Jayalalithaa’s stance on declaring Ram Sethu a national monument, contrasting it with the AIADMK’s current indecision on the matter. Annamalai claimed that Jayalalithaa had offered to rebuild the RSS headquarters in Chennai with government funds after it was bombed in 1993, an offer the organization declined.
Annamalai reiterated that his comments were consistent with his long-standing views on Hindutva, explaining that his recent interview with PTI was misunderstood by some. He clarified, “I never said Jayalalithaa was an enemy of Muslims and Christians,” countering claims that the BJP is anti-Muslim and anti-Christian as false.
In his interview, Annamalai had stated, “…till Jayalalithaaji was alive, she was a far superior Hindutva leader than anybody in Tamil Nadu. Pre-2014, when you have a party like the BJP and Jayalalithaa as a leader the natural choice of a Hindu voter would be Jayalalithaa, who displayed her Hindu identity openly.”
Annamalai’s remarks have sparked strong reactions from the AIADMK and V K Sasikala, a confidante of the late Jayalalithaa.
