Selvaperunthagai to Annamalai: Apologise to me for rowdy remark, otherwise I will file case against you

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai on Tuesday demanded that BJP state president K Annamalai apologise to him for calling him a history-sheeter, failing which he would file a case against him for defamation and character assassination and under sections of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Selvaperunthagai said Annamalai called him a rowdy and a history-sheeter when he (Annamalai) went to murdered BSP state president K Amstrong’s house on Monday.
“Does he know that his speech comes under hate speech and defamation? Does he know what would be the punishment for hurting the sentiments of a person? Go and ask your legal advisor if your speech does not come under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act,” Selvaperunthagai said.
The TNCC chief said many dalit leaders had been calling him up since Tuesday early morning asking him to file a complaint before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. The state commission for SC/ST is also strong in Tamil Nadu, he said.
“If I file a complaint under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, which has now been enhanced, do you know how many years of imprisonment you would get?” he said, posing the question to Annamalai. “Will you get anticipatory bail?”
Selvaperunthgai said he came from the Congress party, which knew how to pardon people. He referred to the four cases which were filed against him in 2004. He alleged that those cases were instigated by the RSS. Court acquitted him in all cases.
Responding to Selvaperunthagai’s demand, Annamalai posted X: “I am not going back on my words that he was on the history-sheeter list. I am not in the habit of seeking an apology for a mistake I did not commit,”.
He listed out the cases filed against Selvaperunthagai. He said Selvaperunthagai was an accused in the auditor Pandian murder case.
Annamalai wanted to know if Selvaperunthagai was denying that he was arrested under the Goondas Act. “Just because he says he came in the Gandhian way, will the cases filed against him in the past become non-existent?” he asked.