Gayatri Raghuram has accused the state president of BJP Annamalai of speaking ill of women working in the party and attacking them through ‘war room’.
Film artist Gayathri Raghuram has quit the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that “Annamalai is not safe for women”.
He spoke to BBC Tamil in detail about how he had to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“I was suspended from the party post a few months ago. During these two months of suspension, I have been continuously demanding an inquiry. I have also sent emails asking for my explanation. After this, their (Annamalai) ‘War Rumi’ started criticizing me very badly on Twitter. From within the party. Annamalai did not say anything about such an attack. She did not even say, “Don’t target a woman like this,”’ Gayatri said.
Continued complaints – Annamalai silence
“Now for the past few months, the honey-trap issue is being talked about again in the media. It is a very dangerous thing for women. In such a situation, Annamalai spoke in front of 150 people in front of 150 people, “Don’t you know what she did in a Dubai hotel?” It gave an opportunity to many people to misjudge me. I texted him and he didn’t reply.
Meanwhile, news started circulating that Alisha Abdullah and I had a video in a bi-weekly magazine. They have five or six ‘war rooms’. What to do when they keep attacking us? It’s been 2 months since I complained. No action. It was depressing.
When Alisha Abdullah had a problem, they held a press conference and made her give an explanation. Likewise, when Daisy had a problem, she was made to meet the press. But, similarly when I had a problem, I had to face it alone. I was convicted without any trial.
“I will report to the police”
I don’t know the reason for avoiding me.
In the audio released when Madan Ravichandran’s issue came up, he said that the reason for putting a glass door in his room was “so that everyone would know when people like Gayatri and Khushbu meet and talk to him”.
How do you talk to women in the party like this?” said Gayatri Raghuram.
When asked about reports in some media that Gayatri Raghuram is going to file a complaint by handing over the audio-videos he has to the police, he said, “I don’t have any audio-video. He is the one who says, ‘I have the video, it will be ugly if I release it.'”
Why have so many videos? Do you have to give it to the police? He slanders a woman in front of 150 people. I went to Dubai with BJP functionaries like my brothers. Annamalai talks so badly about it,” remarked Gayatri Raghuram.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran has sent a two-page complaint to the party leadership, alleging that Gayatri Raghuram misbehaved when she came to Dubai.
We asked Gayatri Raghuram about this.
“That Ravi is like a joker. When we went to Dubai, he didn’t even come to the airport to welcome us. There were three BJP ministers. He didn’t even ask if we ate or slept when we got there.
We did everything ourselves. Why this ‘Tiger Ravi’ person has not shown this letter for so many days. Why is he showing today? They publish it after I say I quit. They think they can make me ugly after I quit.
He has a wife. Has his photo ever been released? But we are working in the party as individual women. It should be supported. Should have stood with. On the contrary, you are insulting us. Why didn’t you investigate me and show me this letter at that time?
We have been seeing such audio-video controversies in BJP for the last two years. Two women have been affected in the last two months. Apart from that, a woman from Tiruvarur also lodged a complaint. Everyone is having trouble.
It was very upsetting when the party leader himself spoke ill of the women in the party. I was thinking about this all night. Gayathri said that she finally decided to leave the party.
Planning to join another party?
I came to the party to serve. But, there was mental distress. If someone speaks ill of women, he will cut off his tongue. He himself has spoken wrongly. What to do with him? What right do you have to defame me in front of 150 people?
I told everyone in Delhi. I was waiting for them to take action. But they trolled so much. It’s okay if the opposition ‘trolls’. But they did. Annamalai is the cause of my condition. If he was a good leader, what should he have called and talked about?
In a second, they ask what I did for the party. In response, I will ask what you have done in these two years.
I think I want to stay in politics. So, I will consider calls from other parties. The purpose for which I came to this party and worked for 8 years has been destroyed,” says Gayatri Raghuram.
Neither the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party nor the state president Annamalai has yet commented on the Gayatri Raghuram issue.
We tried to contact BJP state president Annamalai for her comments on Gayatri Raghuram’s allegations. He did not accept our invitation.
As soon as we get his reply we will post this message.
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