Communist Party of India (Marxist) has blamed the State government for not taking steps for industrialisation of southern districts as a measure to prevent caste clashes as recommended by the Mohan Committee.
Speaking at a day-long fast organised by the CPI(M) and Communist Party of India here on Saturday, its State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that the southern districts faced violence following caste clashes in the late 1990s.
The Mohan Committee came out with the recommendation of setting up industrial units in the southern districts to prevent such clashes. He had said that the unemployed youths were being misled by vested interests. “However, even after 15 years of the report was submitted to the government, no steps were taken to bring industries to the southern districts,” he said.
Veteran CPI leader R. Nallakannu said that during the 1995-97 caste clashes in the southern districts 95 persons were killed. Properties worth Rs. 109 crore were damaged. The present caste clashes that were witnessed in Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts were seen in Dharmapuri too.
Stating that violence incidents were recurring in southern districts during functions organised by casteist organisations, he said only the working class people were being killed in such clashes.
CPI leader C. Mahendran found fault with the practice of taking pride in castes that often led to clashes. Bringing about social unity was the only way out to put an end to such clashes, he added.
Besides, Tenkasi MP P. Lingam and MLAs R. Annadurai (Madurai South) V. Ponnupandy (Srivilliputtur) cadres from southern districts took part.
