The District Collector of Coimbatore Kranthi Kumar Pati IAS finds himself in the midst of a controversy for responding to an old video which shows BJP Tamil Nadu Head and Coimbatore MP candidate K. Annamalai giving cash in the hands of a woman who took aarti.
The video was taken 8 months ago in July 2023 during the ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ yatra of BJP leader Annamalai.
In the video, a woman can be seen taking aarti (a traditional welcome ritual of Tamil Hindus) to Annamalai as he visits their home. It is customary/tradition for the visitor to give some money to the person taking the aarti. Annamalai can be seen giving money to the woman after she takes aarti.
This clip was circulated and shared by a supporter of Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s ADMK insinuating that BJP leader Annamalai was violating the Model Code of Conduct and was not walking the talk on not giving cash for votes.
The District Collector immediately jumped the gun saying that he had taken cognizance of the video and would be sending it for police verification.
However, the video was found to be old and the same was brought to light by BJP supporters on social media.
This is a 8 months old video that was taken in Ramanthapuram. And can we expect the District Collector of Coimbatore to take action against those who have wilfully spread this content?
And we hope that he not be swayed by miscreants in the future. https://t.co/echw4O9Sw3 pic.twitter.com/v7QS1t4Rbr
— Krishna Kumar Murugan (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@ikkmurugan) March 29, 2024
Following this, K. Annamalai too retaliated at the Collector for jumping the gun saying “With all the resources at the disposal of the Coimbatore District Collector, instead of checking on the authenticity of a video, he decides to respond to something that was shot on 29.07.2023 during our En Mann En Makkal Yatra in the Ramanathapuram District.“
He also pointed out that it is the Tamil tradition to reward those who take aarti but he or his party won’t do the same during elections.
With all the resources at the disposal of the @CollectorCbe, instead of checking on the authenticity of a video, he decides to respond to something that was shot on 29.07.2023 during our En Mann En Makkal Yatra in the Ramanathapuram District.
It's in our culture to reward those… https://t.co/cjWMU2IcV9
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 29, 2024
“We only wish Coimbatore District Collector be vigilant when the actual exchange of cash happens by parties who are today spreading lies.“, Annamalai said.
Following the massive backlash, the District Collector issued a clarification saying that the complaint to act against false claim has been forwarded to police department for further action.
Based on the enquiry of the police department it is determined that this video pertains to July 2023 and hence not falling in the purview of election code. Complaint received to act against false claim is forwarded to police department for further action. https://t.co/gBycqLmyNB
— District Collector, Coimbatore (@CollectorCbe) March 29, 2024
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.