The Hindu : National : Historic day for Uthapuram and country: Karat

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Thursday, May 08, 2008
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Historic day for Uthapuram and country: Karat

D. Karthikeyan

— Photo: S. James

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat inspecting a portion of the wall that was demolished to make a common pathway at Uthapuram in Madurai district on Wednesday. N. Varadarajan, State secretary of the party, is seen second from right.

MADURAI: “Let May 6 open a new chapter for a new Uthapuram and [it] shall see the beginning of a democratic and prosperous Uthapuram, and this message shall go to every part of Tamil Nadu and be a great beginning for total emancipation,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Wednesday.

Mr. Karat, who visited the village in Madurai district, where a section of the dividing wall was demolished on Tuesday, asked the people to support the Marxists in their fight against oppression and discrimination.

Mr. Karat went round the village and inspected the 600-metre-long wall running across the village dividing two communities.

He also looked at the portion of the wall that was demolished to make a common pathway and the wall built around a peepul tree. He was given a rousing reception by the villagers.

“May 6 is a historic day for Uthapuram, Tamil Nadu and India as the wall of shame, which divided people for more than 18 years, and which symbolised caste oppression and discrimination, was razed down. This step of demolition is the first step towards demolishing the wall completely,” he said.

It was a shame that caste oppression was prevalent even 61 years after Independence. This inhuman practice went against the basic values of the freedom movement and was against the principles of the Constitution. No section could be emancipated if another section was oppressed, Mr. Karat said and called for a fight to do away with the hateful caste system.

He said the party would fight to ensure that residents (Dalits) of Uthapuram got their status as equal citizens with all constitutionally guaranteed rights. He wanted the State government to make sure that Dalits had access to all public spaces and common property resources. It should also fulfil their demands.

Mr. Karat said that after seeing the reports on the existence of the wall, he asked the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front and the CPI(M) State unit to conduct a campaign and told them that he would participate in the campaign and visit the village.

He appreciated the Tamil Nadu government for demolishing a section of the wall for a public thoroughfare and called upon all sections at Uthapuram to maintain the peace and live harmoniously.

Earlier, CPI(M) State secretary N. Varadarajan appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in ensuring the demolition of a portion of the wall.

He said the government should provide sufficient funds for the development of the village.

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