Accusing PMK leader S. Ramadoss of instigating caste violence with a view to arresting the decline in his support base, Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Saturday wanted Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take action against him for his vicious campaign against Dalits.
Talking to reporters here, Mr. Thirumavalavan said leaders of political parties should not remain silent and express their stand on the violence at Marakkanam and the attack on Dalits.
He said Dr. Ramadoss was desperate to retain his base as many senior leaders of the PMK had been leaving one by one, for one reason or another, and two consecutive elections defeats — 2009 Lok Sabha polls and 2011 Assembly polls — had forced him to resort to caste mobilisation.
He said the hate campaign by PMK leaders in Mamallapuram on the occasion of Chitra Pournami resulted in the attack against Dalits in Dharmapuri and the State government’s failure to take against the perpetrators of the crime had once again led to attacks and violence.
Mr. Thirumavalavan said the mob had attacked two persons who had quit the PMK and killed them. “Now they are shifting the blame on the VCK,” he alleged.
Later Mr. Thirumavalavan and former VCK MLA Ravikumar met DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and spoke to him about the background to violence and the attacks on Dalits.
Mr. Karunanidhi said such caste clashes and the police firing to quell mobs did not augur well for Tamil Nadu.
“The police should pay adequate attention to bring about normality. Leaders of political parties also must discuss among themselves and find an amicable solution,” he told reporters.
‘Speech disturbing’
Mr. Karunanidhi said he shared the concern of everyone who was disturbed by the speech of Dr. Ramadoss strongly criticising leaders of political parties and blaming the Dravidian parties for everything.
