Promoting enmity: Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai booked

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Police has booked state BJP chief K Annamalai over alleged charges of inciting and promoting enmity between groups, Asian News International reported.

A day ago, the state police had booked a Bihar BJP leader and two journalists under similar charges after they spread information, allegedly fake, that 12 Bihar labourers were hanged to death in Tamil Nadu. They used Twitter to spread more rumours of an attack on north Indian labourers in the southern state.

On Saturday, Annamalai released a statement that migrant labourers are staying safe in the state, but the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam and its allies are the reason behind the hate towards these labourers.

The TN BJP head also said that the state opposes the spread of fake news on the attack on migrant labourers and added that Tamil people don't support "separatism" or "vile hatred" against the north Indians. Tamil people believe in the concept of "The World is One".

He said that it was because of the statements by DMK leaders and their allies on North Indians that triggered the recent incidents, citing a DMK minister calling migrant labourers Panipuri Wala.

According to him, the people or the police in the state do not endorse the views of DMK.

Police officials said that a case had been registered against the BJP Bihar Twitter account holder too on the same charges filed against Annamalai.

A wave of panic went through migrant labourers in the state after purported videos showing attacks on their community circulated on social media.