“It is not a ritual that is being performed on some caste leader but recalling an important sacrifice made by a member of the oppressed caste fighting to instil a democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Thol. Thirumavalavan, Member of Parliament, and president, Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, here on Wednesday, while participating in the 13th anniversary of the ‘Melavalavu massacre.'
Six Dalits, including Murugesan, president of Melavalavu panchayat, were hacked to death in broad daylight in the incident. Mr. Thirumavalavan said that the murder was a denial of basic fundamental political right to participate in democracy.
After unfurling the party flag and paying floral tributes at the ‘Viduthalai Kalam' memorial, he addressed party cadre who had gathered in large numbers at Melavalavu.
He said that the ‘Viduthalai Kalam' symbolically represented the awakening and assertion of the suppressed masses, which were earlier under the hegemony of both dominant forces and political parties.
