The demand to unite the seven sub-groups and be called by the name of Devendra Kula Vellalar is seeming to near victory. It is being said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K Palaniswami have spoken on the phone regarding the Devendrakula Vellalar Government Order and is expected to be announced in a few days.
BJP leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Tamil Nadu BJP President Dr. L. Murugan, have extended their support to the demand of Devendra Kula Vellalar community for a long time. Earlier, BJP leader Amit Shah attended a meeting organized by the Devendrar Federation in Madurai in this regard and extend support to their demands.
Recently, several Tamil Nadu political party leaders, including the DMK, BJP and Congress, have called on the Tamil Nadu government to accept the demand of the Devendra Kula Vellalar community and issue a decree.
The Devendrakula Vellalars have been asking for regrouping of Pallar, Pannadi, Kudumbar, Kaalaadi, Kadaiyar, Mooppar and Devendrakulathar under one title – ‘Devendra Kula Vellalar’. Parties like Puthiya Tamilagam headed by Dr. Krishnaswamy have also asked for the removal of the community from the list of Scheduled Caste.
Devendra Kula Vellalars even boycotted the entire Nanguneri Assembly by-election held last year as their demands were not fulfilled.
A committee headed by Dr. S. Sumathi, Professor and Head of Anthropology Department, Madras University was set up to look into the matter following a request made to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami.
Even after the committee submitted its report to the Tamil Nadu government, there were complaints that the Tamil Nadu government was delaying sending it to the central government. Meanwhile, another one-man commission headed by IAS officer Hansraj Verma submitted a report to the Tamil Nadu government.
On July 4, Tamil Nadu BJP President Dr. L. Murugan said, “The Tamil Nadu government should send the report to the central government immediately. As the Central Government has accepted this request, we will take immediate action as soon as we receive the report from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The long standing demand of Devendra Kula Vellalar will be fulfilled.”
Congress leader KS Alagiri had issued a statement in this regard and urged to take appropriate action.
Manik Tagore, a Congress MP from Virudhunagar on September 20, said, “The Devendrakula Vellalars are the largest population in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. These are called by seven branch names. These are agricultural citizens based on agriculture. There is inscriptional evidence of water management and agriculture. It is the demand of this community that these seven sub-castes be collectively known as Devendra Kula Vellalar. The Government of Tamil Nadu has appointed a commission headed by Hansraj IAS for this and the report has been submitted to the Tamil Nadu government. But the Tamil Nadu government is delaying this. The Central government’s social justice department must intervene. ”
A hunger strike was held on October 6 in 10,000 villages inhabited by Devendrakula Vellalar farmers spearheaded by Puthiya Tamilagam Party asking for the removal of the community from the Scheduled Caste list and also for the regrouping of the community as ‘Devendrakula Vellalars’.
உண்ணாவிரதப் போராட்டத்துக்கு காவல்துறை அனுமதி மறுத்ததால் பஸ் மறியல் போராட்டம் திருவாரூர் மாவட்டத்தில் நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.#RemoveUsFromScheduleCaste pic.twitter.com/5xjLygIZu2
— புதிய தமிழகம் கட்சி (@PTpartyOfficial) October 6, 2020
The hashtag #RemoveUsFromSceduledCaste said to be initiated by the party’s youth wing leader Dr. Shyam Krishnaswamy trended for the day.
Mass media blackout on today’s simultaneous hunger strikes in >10,000 villages demanding to delist Devendra Kula Velalars from scheduled caste.
Not surprised!
How else will they propagate their ‘dalit victim’ narrative forever.Social media pls support#RemoveUsFromScheduleCaste pic.twitter.com/s3GJwIl8VR
— Shyam Krishnasamy (@DrShyamKK) October 6, 2020
On October 8, John Pandian, belonging to the Devendrakula Vellalar community and leader of the Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam met CM Palaniswami to congratulate him on being declared as AIADMK’s Chief Minister candidate for the 2021 Assembly elections.
2021சட்டமன்ற பொதுத்தேர்தலில் அதிமுக சார்பில் முதல்வர் வேட்பாளராக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு.எடப்பாடி.பழனிச்சாமி அவர்களை முகாம் அலுவலகத்தில் சந்தித்து வாழ்த்துக்களை தெரிவித்தேன்.பின்னர் தேர்தலுக்கு முன் தேவேந்திரகுலவேளாளர் அரசாணை வெளியிட வலியுறுத்தினேன்.@dinathanthi pic.twitter.com/uQQA6nTcpy
— John Pandian (@JohnPandianTMMK) October 8, 2020
During this meeting, John Pandian is said to have put in a word with the CM to fulfil the demands of the community who is said to have given a positive assurance.
Meanwhile on October 7, head of the Devendrar Voluntary Trust M. Thangaraj who was instrumental in bringing Home Minister Amit Shah to the Madurai meeting has said that the government will come out with a GO on October 15.