Continuing his efforts at mobilising the Vanniyar community, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by S. Ramadoss, used the platform at the annual Chitra Pournami festival at Mamallapuram on Thursday night to drive home the point that the rule of Vanniyars alone could secure justice for the community.
It was the running theme in speeches by leaders, including former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and Vanniyar Sangam leader Kaduvetti J. Guru, even as violence involving Dalits and Vanniyars vitiated the atmosphere just before the event.
Dr Anbumani reiterated his party’s decision to form a social front with an objective of providing reservation for every community depending on their strength.
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“We have waited long for Chief Ministers to implement our demand for separate reservation. The Assembly election in 2016 will end this wait. We will come to power and take 20 per cent reservation for Vanniyars and give others quotas depending on their strength,” he said, accusing both the AIADMK and the DMK of betraying the people of Tamil Nadu by just distributing freebies without concentrating on any real issues.
It was left to the irrepressible Guru, a former MLA, to charge up the atmosphere with a no-holds barred attack on leaders of political parties and other communities. He said there was a demand for preventing him from addressing the meeting since his speech at the previous event had led to violence in Dharmapuri.
Mr. Guru said though leaders of political parties accused the PMK leadership of being entrenched in casteism, neither DMK leader Karunanidhi nor Chief Minister Jayalalithaa could eradicate casteism in the State.
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“What did Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani and CPI leader D. Pandian do to put an end to caste system? They may not have faith in caste, but we are proud of our community,” he said.
A resolution adopted in the meeting said while everyone wanted to treat Dalits as their brothers and sisters, some leaders instigated Dalit youths to trap girls from other communities in the name of love.
“Marrying a girl below the age of 18 should be considered sexual abuse,” the resolution said and wanted the government to take steps to prevent misuse of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Seeks inquiry
In the meantime, Dr Ramadoss in a statement, demanded an inquiry into the violent incidents at Marakkanam and its environs on East Coast Road by a sitting judge of the Madras High Court. He squarely blamed the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) for the violent incidents and the police for its failure to prevent them despite it had previous knowledge about it.
The PMK said in a statement that police security provided to Dr. Ramadoss had been withdrawn.