Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai whipped himself six times, as promised at a press conference held on Thursday. Notably, this self-flogging was first of his atonement for the inefficiency of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in ruling the state.

In the presence of mediapersons and BJP members, shirtless K Annamalai, wearing a green mundu, flogged himself with a long, white whip. Meanwhile, the BJP supporters were carrying placards with slogans such as Don’t you have any shame Stalin?, Hang accused Gnanasekharan and ShameOnYouStalin. 

Reportedly, the BJP Chief flogged himself about eight times before supporters rushed to make him stop. After the self-flogging, he addressed the media present there. K Annamalai said that anyone who understood Tamil culture would know that these practices were the ways of the land.

He added that flogging themselves, punishing themselves, putting themselves through very tough rituals etc. are all part of this culture. He continued that these practices are not against any person or not against anything. It is against the continuous injustice that’s happening in the state, he mentioned. 

He claimed that what has happened in Anna University is only a tipping point. He added that a lot of his forefathers walked this path and he has also chosen it. This is a process of surrendering to the higher power, surrendering to God, the BJP state chief added. He said that the common man was getting affected every day due to the administrative inefficiency of the DMK.

He further clarified why he decided to forego any footwear saying it was important to surrender yourself to a larger power. He said that he has taken this decision after a lot of consideration, and believes after all the hard work the party and cadres put in, it is also important that they surrender themselves to a larger power and leave it to the larger power to take care of the things that are happening.

K Annamalai, during a media address yesterday, vowed not to wear slippers until the DMK government was overthrown in the state. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to former PM Manmohan Singh who passed away last night. Manmohan Singh was India’s 14 Prime Ministers and one of the most respected economists. 

Remembering the former Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a video message said that Manmohan Singh’s contribution to the development of India will always be remembered. He added that Dr Singh’s life was a reflection of his honesty and simplicity. He was a distinguished parliamentarian, and his life will always be a lesson on how a person can attain success by rising above deprivation and struggle, the Prime Minister continued. 

He said that the former Prime Minister will always be remembered as an honest man, a great economist and a leader who dedicated himself to reforms. He mentioned that as an economist, Manmohan Singh, provided a lot of service to the nation. During a challenging time, he served as RBI Governor and when he was Finance Minister in PM PV Narasimha Rao’s cabinet, he gave the country that was reeling under economic crisis, a new direction in terms of economy, Narendra Modi mentioned. 

PM Modi also recalled Singh’s life journey after his family migration to India, leaving behind everything following Partition. He continued that his life will always serve as a lesson for future generations on how someone can rise above deprivation and struggles to attain the heights of success. He further highlighted that despite being educated at the world’s prestigious institutes and occupying leading positions, the former Prime Minister and Congress leader never forgot the values of his normal background. 

PM Narendra Modi also visited Manmohan Singh’s residence to pay his respects. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda also visited Singh’s residence. Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rahul Gandhi also visited ex-PM’s residence to pay their tribute. 

Furthermore,  India will observe a seven-day mourning period, with government events cancelled today. The Congress party has also announced a seven-day mourning period, postponing celebrations for its founding day.

Reportedly, the funeral will take place on Saturday, and arrangements will be made for Manmohan Singh’s final resting place near Raj Ghat, the resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. The public viewing of Singh’s body will begin on Saturday at the Congress headquarters. 

In a moment of national sorrow, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has passed away at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. The announcement was made by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, where Singh had been receiving treatment in recent days.

According to the statement released by AIIMS, Singh was found unconscious at his residence earlier today, December 26, 2024. “He was promptly administered resuscitative measures at home and brought to the AIIMS medical emergency at 8:06 pm,” the statement said. Despite all efforts to revive him, he was declared dead at 9:51 pm.

Manmohan Singh, who served as the Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014, was a towering figure in Indian politics. His tenure is marked by his leadership in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He was widely recognized for his calm and intellectual approach to governance, though it was his role as Finance Minister in the early 1990s that cemented his legacy as one of India’s most influential political figures.

Singh’s role in the landmark economic reforms of 1991, which included liberalizing India’s economy, reducing trade barriers, and opening the doors to foreign investment, is often credited with saving the country from economic collapse. These reforms transformed India’s economic landscape, setting the stage for its rapid growth in the subsequent decades.

In the wake of his passing, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi arrived at AIIMS soon after the news of Singh’s hospitalization became known. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi, currently in Belagavi for a Congress Working Committee meeting, are en route back to Delhi, according to reports.

Singh’s death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. He is survived by his wife, Gurcharan Singh, and their three daughters. Known for his humble and dignified nature, Singh’s contributions to India’s economic transformation will continue to resonate for generations to come.