DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday strongly condemned the violence against Dalits in Dharmapuri district. In a statement, Mr Karunanidhi said the absence of proper guidance from higher officials to the field police officials was responsible for the situation.
“The government should take steps to alleviate the fear of Dalits and those who are responsible for attack on them should be booked under the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act,” he said.
He alleged that power cut and indifference of officials of the Agriculture Department had resulted in reduction of areas covered by samba cultivation. Mr Karunanidhi said the area of cultivation had come down by nine lakh acres and a vast tract of agricultural land in delta districts remained uncultivated.