State Ministers, leaders of various political parties and hundreds of Dalits from across the district and neighbouring districts paid floral tributes to Dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran on the occasion of his 58th death anniversary here on Friday.
After villagers from Sellur, the birth place of the Dalit leader, paid homage followed by the Devendra Panpattu Kazhagam, which organised the event, Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare S. Sundararaj and Cooperation Minister Sellur K Raju placed wreaths and paid tribute the leader.
On behalf of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) former Assembly Deputy Speaker V P Duraisamy, former Ministers Suba Thangavelan, A Tamilarasi and V Sathiyamoorthy and former MP Bavani Rajendran place wreaths at the samadhi.
They were followed by TNCC President E V K S Elangovan and former Union Minister Su Thirunavukarasar. Mr. Elangovan said the Congress regime at the Centre had honoured the Dalit leader by releasing a commemorative stamp and assured that the party would be in the forefront in protecting the interest of the oppressed people.
Vidhuthalai Chiruthaial Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalvan and Tamizh Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) leader John Pandian, visited the samadhi according to the time schedule, appealed to the State to organise the event on behalf of the government.
Pointing out that they had been making the demand for several years, Mr Thirumavalavan wanted the government to make an announcement to this effect during the current Assembly session. Mr. Pandian exuded confidence that the government would make an announcement soon in this regard.
Puthiya Tamizhagam leader Dr. K. Krishnasamy was the last to pay homage, well beyond 4 pm, the deadline fixed by the police for political leaders.
Police had registered a case against him last year for failing to stick to the time schedule and the trial is pending.
Amid a massive security cordon, hundreds of men and women walked down from far off villages. Women took out ‘Mulaipari’ and milk pot processions, while men carried ‘jyothis’ as a mark of respect to the leader.
