Tamil Nadu BJP Leader Suspended, Abused Woman Colleague In Viral Audio

The Tamil Nadu BJP has suspended its state Other Backward Classes (OBC) wing leader Suriya Siva from his position for six months for making vulgar and abusive comments, and intimidating a woman leader heading the minorities wing. In the recorded audio of a phone conversation that went viral, Suriya Siva says he would send goons to hack Daisy Saran, and would cut off her genitals and throw them into the Marina beach. He also made vulgar sexual remarks.

On Thursday, both leaders appeared before a disciplinary committee. Though they announced a compromise, the BJP state chief said the party can't let this go, unlike "certain Dravidian parties".

Suriya Siva has been stripped of all party positions for six months.

K Annamalai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief, said Mr Siva can work as a party volunteer in the meanwhile, and if he notices a change in his behaviour, and it inspires confidence in him, "the responsibilities will come back to him."

This has come as a huge embarassmement to the state BJP. A few months ago, a recording of a sleazy video call by BJP General Secretary KT Raghavan to a BJP woman worker went viral. Nothing emerged from the investigation the party had launched, though he had resigned. Mr Annamalai had later said, "the woman in the video had not come forward to give any complaint".

A few weeks ago, DMK's Saidai Sadiq had made vulgar comments on BJP leader Khushbu Sundar, following which the Chennai police registered a case. Khushbu Sundar too had filed a complaint with the National Women's Commission.

"The BJP worships women as goddesses. We can't overlook this and pretend to have not seen," K Annamalai said today.

Suriya Siva, son of senior DMK leader and the party's Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva, had joined the BJP in May this year.