Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Untouchability still prevalent: CPI(M)

MADURAI: Even after 61 years of independence and 40 years of Dravidian rule, the gory face of untouchability and discrimination by birth existed in Tamil Nadu, said N. Varadarajan, State secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist), on Saturday.

Mr. Varadarajan was delivering the valedictory address at a one-day token fast observed by Democratic Youth Federation of India here, demanding justice for Dalits of Uthapuram village and condemning the police firing at E. Kottaipatti.

He said that the practice of two-tumbler system, denial of equal worshipping rights and prevention of entry into public spaces still existed in Tamil Nadu.

Demanding action against police officials involved in the firing, he said that his party would join hands with any democratic force to abolish untouchability. He alleged that the Dalits in and around Uthapuram were being targeted both by the dominant castes and police. They were not able to use the pathway created by the government. He wanted the government to ensure that male members returned to their homes in E. Kottaipatti.

P. Sampath, organiser, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, said that the CPM had been taking up people’s issues and was fighting against price rise, nuclear deal, privatisation of education, and untouchability — a most inhuman practice.

S. K. Mahendran, MLA, said that Madurai district administration which functioned effectively to conduct elections peacefully in Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nattarmangalam and restore faith in democracy had failed in the Uthapuram issue.

He also said that southern districts needed industries, an observation made by Justice Mohan Commission that was formed by the DMK government in the aftermath of caste clashes.

The fast was led by S. G. Ramesh Babu, State president, DYFI, in the presence of S. Kannan, State secretary. P. Mohan, MP, and N. Nanmaran, MLA, participated in the fast.

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