Political parties have condemned the torching of houses of Dalits in Sankarapuram in Villupuram on Saturday.
In a statement, MDMK leader Vaiko insisted on solidarity and unity between the communities. “At a time when the movement against liquor was creating the much needed unity amongst various communities in Tamil Nadu, such clashes are disappointing,” he said.
The MDMK leader further appealed to the members of both the communities to develop much closer ties and not subscribe to divisive politics. “If teenagers and youth of the community grow up subscribing to such divisive ideology, the entire community will be destroyed,” he said.
D. Ravi Kumar, general secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, underlined the fact that the violence had absolutely no provocation. “The Dalits didn’t demand that the ‘Ther’ should go through Vanniar neighbourhood or that the ‘Ther’ of Vanniars should be brought through the Dalit neighbourhood,” he said, adding, “this shows the desperation of Pattali Makkal Katchi that has been sidelined in the anti-liquor movement in the State.”
He added that the PMK, which tasted electoral success after mobilising people on the basis of caste identity, will continue with its politics as the State moves close to elections. “They think that mobilising people on the basis of caste identity worked in Dharmapuri, they will orchestrate more such violence,” Mr. Kumar said.
P.V. Ramesh, who is a part of Makkal Padhugappu Kazhagam, Villupuram, said that a pro-active police force could prevent smaller incidents from escalating into a larger conflict. “A case of harassment can quickly turn into a massive caste conflict. Most of the caste conflicts can be prevented from flaring up with a pro-active intervention by police,” he said.
