Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss on Thursday rejected the perception that the Dravidian movement has several achievements to its credit, arguing that it only created “neo-Brahmins” while alienating Dalits, minorities and other socially and economically backward sections of society.
“The leaders of the Dravidian movement used fascinating language aimed at attracting people. However, the 45-year rule of the Dravidian parties has not achieved any constructive development. On the other hand, media houses promoted by the family members of these leaders have destroyed Tamil culture and civilisation,” Dr. Ramadoss told reporters here.
Reacting to the launch of the centenary celebrations of the Dravidian movement by the DMK, he said that DMK leaders would talk of Dravidianism and the bogey of ‘Dravida Naadu' whenever they were out of power but remained silent while in office.
“The DMK derived maximum benefit from the campaign of M. G. Ramachandran in its favour. But the moment he quit the DMK to launch the AIADMK, they called him a ‘Malayalee',” Dr Ramadoss said. Though the Dravidian leaders harped on “self-respect and equality,” they continued to keep the people in poverty through distribution of freebies. “They make a hue and cry about casteism and vow to eradicate it. But they are not able to remove casteism even from a single street in the State,” he said.
