Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has criticized the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Tamil Nadu government for its handling of the Anna University sexual assault case. Chandrasekhar accused the government of attempting to shield the accused, who is allegedly associated with the DMK.
“This is clearly an exposure of how INDI alliance parties talk about political gains but do not at all practice the spirit and letter of the Constitution. This young girl was raped brutally at Anna University… she has been looking for justice but because the rapist is a DMK functionary, the police and the government are busy trying to cover that up,” Chandrasekhar told media.
The BJP leader also criticized the Tamil Nadu police for detaining BJP workers and members of the BJP Mahila Morcha, who were protesting to demand justice for the victim. “Today, BJP wanted to take out a procession; they have been arrested. This is an absolute violation of the constitutional right of BJP party workers and Mahila Morcha to protest and seek justice for the girl who was brutally raped,” he added.
Addressing a press conference earlier, Chandrasekhar described the situation as a reflection of “lawlessness” under the DMK-led government. He stated, “On December 23, 2024, in the middle of Chennai, on the Anna University campus, a second-year engineering student was sexually assaulted by a group of men… her companions were subjected to violence. It has become clear that the perpetrator, Ganashekharan, is not a simple sexual offender but a DMK functionary with evidence linking him to the party’s top leadership. This type of lawlessness prevails in INDI alliance, DMK-governed Tamil Nadu.”
Earlier in the day, the BJP’s women’s wing staged a “Justice Rally” from Madurai to Chennai, demanding justice for the victim. However, the protesters were detained by the police.
The incident involved the alleged sexual assault of a second-year student at Anna University on the night of December 23. Following public outrage, one suspect, Ganashekharan, was arrested.
The case has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP accusing the DMK government of negligence and partiality in its approach to justice, raising concerns about the safety and security of women in the state.