On Thursday (October 22), Britain’s Proscribed Organizations Appeal Commission delisted Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the list of proscribed terrorist organizations.
Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry on Thursday said that government came to know of the judgement made by the British Commission on October 21.
The judgement was delivered following an appeal filed by an “LTTE front organization” in May 2019. The appeal had challenged the decision of British Secretary of State for Home Affairs dated March 8, 2019, which refused the application by the group to de-proscribe the LTTE from the list of Proscribed Organizations under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000.
Though Sri Lanka was not a party to these proceedings at the Commission and could not make direct representations, the Sri Lankan Government had assisted the British government by providing relevant information about the continued terrorist activities of LTTE.
“The Open Judgement of the POAC while allowing the Appeal, provides for further hearings, and the Government of Sri Lanka will continue to closely monitor the progress of the case in the UK,” the statement given by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said.
Sri Lanka has said that it has sufficient evidence to prove that the remnants of the LTTE and its allied groups subscribing to its terrorist ideology are still active in several foreign countries working to incite violence and destabilize the country.
The island nation has said that it remains “vigilant” to the threats to its national security and has pledged to support the international community in its fight against extremism.
The LTTE, a militant separatist group founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran, advocated a separate Tamil country comprising of north and eastern provinces of the island. It ran a military campaign for nearly 3 decades before it was decimated in 2009 with the killing of Prabhakaran by the Sri Lankan army.
LTTE was listed as a terrorist outfit by the UK in early 2000.
Be it good times or hard times, Indians are known for taking everything in their stride. As the country deals with the menace of Wuhan virus unleashed by China which has played spoilsport for this year’s festive season, Indians have given a form to their negative sentiments against China. In Berhampore in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, the Sarbajanin Club has created a statue of Maa Durga slaying China’s President Xi Jinping who has been identified with evil Mahishasura.
Durga pooja is the celebration of the victory ofGoddess Durga against the demon Mahishasura signifying the victory of good over evil.
In the photo which is available on social media, the decapitated head of the demon Mahishasur has been replaced with Xi Jinping giving it a contemporary twist amid the ongoing standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This new statue has been earning praise from people after it went viral on social media. The structure was conceptualised by idol maker Ashim Pal. The sculptor has Maa Durga in the center Lakshmi and Saraswati along with her children, Kartik, and Ganesh on her flanks.
However, Mahishasura’s missing head resembles that of China’s president who is the supreme leader of the Chinese Communist part and its military.
Setting a new low for themselves, Periyarist groups included the names of Hindu Saivite seers belonging to Perur Adheenam and Siravai Adheenam in the guest speakers list for an online event by deceiving them.
An invitation for an online event titled ‘Tamil Nadu Festival – Online Arise Event’ was getting circulated on social media in which the names of Perur Adheenam Thava Thiru Maruthachala Adigalar and Siravai Adheenam Thava Thiru Kumaraguru Adigalar were included as part of the guest speakers list.
Many devotees were taken aback on seeing the invitation carrying the names of Perur and Siravai Adheenams.
The Adheenams in Tamil Nadu are Saivite Mutts where Lord Shiva is worshipped and the philosophy of Saiva Siddhanta is professed.
This online event being organized by the Periyar Unarvalargal Kootamaipu (Periyar Sympathizers Federation) comes as a follow up to the release of a new ‘Tamil Nadu flag’ by the group.
A few days back fringe elements like May 17 movement leader Thirumurugan Gandhi, Deputy President of Dravida Kazhagam (DK) Kali Poongundran (original name Kaliamurthy Naidu) and other members belonging to Tamil Nationalist and Periyarist groups released a new flag for Tamil Nadu.
The flag has a white background with the map of present day Tamil Nadu in red colour.
Speaking to reporters at the launch event, Thirumurugan Gandhi said that they would be hoisting the flags in different places across Tamil Nadu on November 1. He said that everybody irrespective caste, religion and parties should come forward and accept the flag. He mentioned that if cricket teams and caste outfits can have flag why not a flag for Tamil Nadu.
He also said that they would be presenting the flag to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and along with an appeal to declare November 1 a state holiday.
Kali Poongundran said that the flag needs to be taken amongst the youngsters and that there is a need to ‘assert’ the Tamil identity.
In light of this, an online event titled “Tamil Nadu Festival – Online Arise Event” is being organized by the Periyar Unarvalargal Kootamaipu (Periyar Sympathizers Federation) on October 29, 30 and 31 through Zoom video conferencing.
Fringe elements like Thirumurugan Gandhi, Kolathur Mani (founder of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam), film director Karu Pazhaniappan, Dravida Kazhagam President K. Veeramani and other members who attack Hindu religion are the guest speakers.
In this invitation the names of Perur Adheenam Maruthachala Adigalar and Siravai Adheenam Kumaraguru Adigalar were also found to be printed coming as a shock to many Hindus and the Adheenam devotees.
Clarifying the matter, Thava Thiru Maruthachala Adigalar of the Perur Adheenam said that he was not told about the details of other speakers and that a person known to Perur Adheenam and Siravai Adheenam had approached him for speaking at an event titled ‘Tamil Nadu Festival’.
He also said that both the Adheenams had decided to not participate after coming to know of the true nature of the event and the details of other speakers.
Srinivasan Subramaniam, State President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad North Tamil Nadu, said that this lowly act of trying to bring disrepute to the Adheenams by the anti-national gangs in the name of ‘Tamil’ is highly condemnable.
In yet another diatribe against Hindus, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) head Thol. Thirumavalavan speaking at an online seminar organized by Periyarist groups called Hindu women as prostitutes citing Manusmriti.
“If one were to look at how women are valued in Sanatana Dharma… how they are treated… how they are being suppressed for time immemorial… how they are being exploited… what does Sanatana Dharma say about women? Women are basically created as prostitutes by God. All women are prostitutes as per Hindu Dharma.. Manu Dharma.. All women are prostitutes. That is how they have been created by God. They are of lower status than men. This is applicable to Brahmin women as well as women of other castes. This is what the Sanatana Dharma says”. Thol. Thirumavalavan said.
This person who is a MP from the temple town of Chidambaram is pure evil he must be wiped out from the public life and anybody who is associating with him be it DMK or ADMK must also be wiped out from the public life. pic.twitter.com/rOwPszxPUo
— Vishwatma 🇮🇳 ( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ) (@HLKodo) October 21, 2020
It is to be remembered that Thirumavalavan recently performed the last rites of his sister as per the Santana Dharma traditions by performing homam in the presence of a Hindu priest and chanting of hymns.
Following this many on Twitter called out the leader for his abusive comments on women citing a text that is not even relevant to present times.
The hashtag #திருட்டுப்பயதிருமாவளவன் (Thirumavalavan the thief) started trending nationwide with many digging out his association with Islam and Christianity.
Recently when his sister died we could see them performing rites as per Hindu costumes. So his statement apply to his own family ladies first. #திருட்டுப்பயதிருமாவளவன்
He's just being a loyal dog to the xtian conversion Mafia. To defame the glory of Indian history and Sanatan Dharma is happening for ages. But now, in Modi's era, we Hindus strongly believe that their end is near. Wake up & retaliate!! #திருட்டுப்பயதிருமாவளவன்@thirumaofficial 😠 https://t.co/G9irwJrbgJ
This is not the first time Thirumavalavan has been spewing venom against Hindu religion. Earlier he was booked for hurting religious sentiments when he made a comment on temples. He had said “if a structure built like a dome it is a Mosque, if there is a tall tower like structure it is a Church, if there are ugly figurines it is a Hindu temple”.
He had also called for the demolition of all Sivan and Vishnu temples and building Buddhist vihars.
The DMK and its sympathizers planted in several domains including mainstream media, keep thumping their chest about how DMK is the only party that upholds social justice and stands shoulder to shoulder with the downtrodden. However their fabricated false history and the halo that they have built around themselves is now being shattered, thanks to the information revolution and social media. But one need not take the trouble to go back and research about their history to understand their casteist, despotic and oppressive mindset. Of late, their own senior leaders have been spilling it out in the open. Here is a list of some of the instances of DMK’s atrocities on Dalits for which they have got a free pass.
1. Kizhvenmani massacre
C.N. Annadurai, who took over as DMK’s first chief minister after fierce language movement against then ruling congress party in the year 1967.However sooner towards the end of 1968 the infamous incident of lynching and burning of 44 agricultural labourers belonging to the Scheduled Caste over wage struggles happened in Kizhavenmani village. Women’s rights activist and writer Mythily Sivaraman’s book “Haunted By Fire” captures how DMK for the sake of getting other caste vote, completely left the victims and tried to erase this incident from public memory. On January 12, 1969, their ideological icon ‘Periyar’ did not even condemned the incident. He said that wage is not something that can be demanded, but is fixed by the market. Till now the DMK and its stooges do not utter a word or look the other when this is brought up. Worse, the even lie or be in denial about it.
2. Humiliating Dalit woman leaders
During Karunanidhi’s second term as Chief Minister, Dalit woman leader Sathyavani Muthu resigned from the ministry and left the DMK to start her own party Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. Ten MLAs, two MLCs and an MP jointly signed a resignation letter in support of Sathyavani Muthu but later retracted owing to political pressure.
Sathyavani Muthu
At the time of leaving the party, she angrily told “We will form a new party, sit on the opposition benches, and fight for the rights of Schedules Castes. We will not let them be exploited and humiliated endlessly“. Also in her speech she said after Dr. Ambedkar nobody has in right intention has helped Dalits. Sathyavani later joined the AIADMK and served as Central Minister in Charan Singh government.
3. Other instance Dalit leaders discriminated by the party
The DMK’s history of discriminating Dalit leaders traces its history to the period of its parent organization Justice Party under ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramaswamy. M.C. Rajah severed ties with Justice Party over its treatment of Dalits.
MC Rajah
Former MP, the late C. T. Dhandapani was publicly insulted on the basis of his caste by the then local minister Pongalur Palanisamy and his wife both of whom belonged to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, an OBC caste.
CT Dhandapani
Dalit leaders like Parithi Ilamvazhuthi who ironically defeated Sathyavani Muthu in 1984 elections quit the party in 2013 and joined the AIADMK citing lack of respect in the party.
Parithi Ilamvazhuthi
V.P. Duraiswami who is now with the BJP quit the party for the same reasons.
This discrimination continues till date even at the grassroots with Dalit leaders being meted out with unfair treatment.
4. Manjolai massacre
After very brief hiatus, DMK came back to power in 1996. Karunanidhi took over as CM for the fourth time. The years between 1996 and 2001 remains one of the darkest period in Tamil Nadu with respect to caste clashes. With renewed focus on reservation after Mandal commission, Karunanidhi was unable to handle the pulls and pressures of each caste group all across southern Tamil Nadu. It eventually headed to towards attack on Dalits on various places by dominant caste groups. There are lot of literature available detailing each and every caste based incident which happened in Southern districts during the period of 1996-2001.
One such bloody incident when the law and order went for a toss state is the Manjolai massacre. On 23 July 1999, a large number of labourers from the tea estates of Manjolai (mostly Dalits) congregated in Tirunelveli and marched towards the collectorate demanding the release of a number of estate workers, who were arrested earlier for staging protest demanding better wages. The workers were being paid Indian ₹70 per day then and they were demanding the wage to be increased to ₹100. The workers were also demanding maternity leave, periodical breaks for women during the eight-hour-long duty. They were also opposing the decision of the estate owners to force workers to stay in sheds with poor facilities and deny right to rear cattle or even raise gardens. A large contingent of stone throwing and lathi-wielding police brutally assaulted the protesters forcing them to run towards the river.
As police continued to chase them to the river, many got into the river and drowned. It resulted in death of 17 labourers, including two women and a two-year-old child, when they got into the river to escape.
A Tamil language documentary titled ‘Oru Nathiyin Maranam’ (Death of a River) released in 1999 exposes the DMK government’s negligence on the life of tea estate workers life and safety.
5. Sidelining Dalit representatives
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanniyarasu in an interview to a Tamil news channels had said that during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections the VCK had asked for contesting from a general (unreserved) constituency to which Karunanidhi had supposedly said “You gus don’t aspire for general seats”.
2009 நாடாளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் நாங்கள் திமுக விடம் பொது தொகுதி கேட்டோம் – வன்னியரசு!
அதற்கு திமுக கலைஞர் கருணாநிதி பொது வீதியில் நடக்க கூடாது , பொது குளத்தில் குளிக்க கூடாது என்பது போல பொது தொகுதிக்கு எல்லாம் ஆசைப்பட வேண்டாம் என சொன்னார் ! pic.twitter.com/6YdSKngn4p
The DMK practices casteism and untouchability even in allotment ministerial births to their own party people and alliance parnters. While dominant caste groups are given weighty portfolios, Dalit leaders are given portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Adi-Dravidar Welfare. This was echoed by even VCK founder leader Thol. Thirumavalavan in the year 2011.
6. Scanty representation of Dalits in the party
The population of Dalits is around 1.40 crore in Tamil Nadu but their representation in DMK’s powerful body is only 1.65% during the year 2018. There has never been a Dalit who had helmed the party. Until A. Raja was elevated to ‘Deputy’ General Secretary, the Dalits were never put in higher decision making bodies. The party’s much coveted and powerful post of District Secretary remains confined to dominant caste groups. Only 1 District Secretary out of the 65 is a Dalit.
7. Usurping Panchami lands
Panchami land is the land assigned to be distributed for the Scheduled Caste people in Tamil Nadu during the British rule in 1892. It can neither be sold nor re-classified. There are lot of instances of panchami land being appropriated by DMK workers and leaders. In 2019 there was serious allegation raised that the Chennai office of DMK mouthpiece Murasoli is constructed on Panchami land. The Murasoli building is located in Kodambakkam, one of the prominent areas in Chennai. It was PMK founder leader DR S. Ramadoss who raised the issue, a few days before the bypolls to Vikravandi and Nanguneri constituencies .Responding to Ramadoss’s charge, Stalin shared the 1985 deed of the Murasoli land. But BJP’s Tada Periyasamy, said only the original documents dating back to 1923 permanent register can prove if Murasoli office is located in Panchami land or not. After few months of grabbing headlines the entire issue is now in back burner with DMK unable to prove anything on it is not a Panchami land. The case is now pending with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
8. “If Dalits are judges today, it is the ‘alms’ given by the Dravidian movement”
Speaking at an event in the DMK youth wing headquarters, in February of this year, the DMK MP had said it was due to the alms (picchai) given by the Dravidian Movement that persons from SC community became judges.
A case was slapped on the DMK MP under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Madras High Court hearing the case told the DMK’s Rajya Sabha MP and Organizing Secretary RS Bharathi that he should make responsible statements considering befitting of the position he holds.
9. “Are we depressed class people to be treated this way?”
In May 2020, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Secretary to submit the petitions received under DMK’s propaganda banner “Ondrinaivom Vaa” said “Engalai moondram thara makkal pol nadathinaargal. Naangal enna thaazhthapatta aatkala?”(They treated us like third-class people. What are we? Depressed class people?)”
Honorable Chairman @DrRamShankarMP National Schedule Caste Commission, New Delhi
DMK Lok Sabha Members T.R.Balu and Dayanidhi Maran recently talked about Schedule Caste people on bad manner, so #NCSC_Committee have to file a case and take action on them. pic.twitter.com/aidkJQInF0
These are very few instances where DMK has neglected Dalit interests for the sake getting into power with majoritarian caste votes.Dalit parties which are aligned with DMK has to seriously think about the interests of Dalit people in mind and should oppose DMK for its caste majoritarian politics.
10. “How dare you speak up against me?”
In June 2020, a DMK office bearer in Tiruvannamalai district thrashed a Dalit youth belonging to Dravida Kazhagam (DMK’s parent organization) and verbally abused him using casteist slurs.
The accused Karunanidhi, leader of Parayampattu gram panchayat beat up Ramkumar a young graduate belonging to the same village and who was a youth wing leader of Dravida Kazhagam’s Tiruvannamalai unit.
Ramkumar was a riding his bike near the banks of the village lake at around 10 AM on May 15. Karunanidhi riding pillion with another man named Dharman is said to have come in the opposite direction and collided on Ramkumar’s bike. Ramkumar had responded angrily saying that both the parties would have been hurt badly if they had come in speed.
“Can’t you see me and Thalaivar (leader) coming? You should have made way on seeing us” Dharman is said to have responded using abusive language. Ramkumar had then gotten into a war of words. Irked, Karunanidhi got off from the bike and started beating Ramkumar with slippers hitting his face and chest.
“How dare you raise your voice and speak against me? Should have thrown you guys outside the village a long time back. Since that wasn’t done, you got enough courage to speak up against us is it?” said Karunanidhi using casteist slurs.
Karunanidhi’s brother Parthasarathy who was passing by started using casteist slurs against Ramkumar without inquiring into the incident “You earn your livelihood by beating drums. Don’t even have the ability to pay back debts! How dare you speak against my brother?” Parthasarathy is reported to have said who also started thrashing Ramkumar.
Coming to know of the incident Ramkumar’s mother hurried to the spot who was also beaten with slippers by DMK man Karunanidhi and his brother.
Ramkumar is later said to have reported the incident at Thachampattu Police Station where his complaint was initially rejected. After a long hiatus, an FIR was registered. Later, Thachampattu Block Councillor Ramanan of the DMK had threatened Ramkumar to withdraw the case.
The Thachampattu Police registered cases against 6 members including Karunanidhi.
11. Dalit cadre made to carry slippers of DMK MLA
In July 2020, a video of a Dalit office bearer of the DMK, carrying the slippers of DMK MLA from Ambur A.C. Vilwanathan went viral.
Ambur Mr Viswanathan DMK MLA cheppal was taken by a gram panchayat unoin officer .
The DMK MLA had gone to visit the rain-damaged barrier at Ponnappally village of Arangaldurgam Panchayat in Thirupatthur district on June 30. A few DMK members, including Venkatasamudram Panchayat Secretary Shankar, accompanied him. The area being slippery, the DMK MLA had removed his slippers to walk freely. The DMK MLA can be seen walking ahead while Sankar follows carrying the MLA’s slippers in his hands. Sankar belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
Sankar had however refuted the criticism mounted on the MLA saying that the he was not asked by the MLA to carry the slippers. Sankar added that it was him who carried the slippers voluntarily.
12. Dalit panchayat leader made to sit on the floor by DMK office bearers
Rajeswari (37), the a Panchayat President of Chidambaram South Thittai Panchayat in Cuddalore district was made to sit on the floor by Panchayat Secretary Sindhuja and Vice President of the Panchayat Council Mohanraj belonging to the DMK.
In the panchayat meeting held on July 17, Rajeswari was made to sit on the floor while the other members sat on chairs. She was also not allowed hoist the National Flag on Independence Day.
Rajeswari hails from the Adi Dravidar community. Both Sindhuja and Mohanraj were charged under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Rajeswari later joined the AIADMK.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. The list however is never ending. The Dravidian idea of social justice is nothing but social justice for the already wealthy and powerful dominant caste and not for the oppressed and downtrodden.
In a show of defiance and solidarity, amid the presence of heavily armed police officers who stood guard Wednesday (October 21) evening, the people of France espousing the valued of “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” and defied Islamic terrorism ideology by projecting huge images of Charlie Hebdo cartoons on a local government building.
The images of Charlie Hebdo cartoons that also included a caricature of Prophet Mohammad was projected onto two town halls in the Occitanie region — Montpellier and Toulouse — for four hours on Wednesday evening. Regional mayor Carole Delga was quoted by FranceBleu as saying of the decision to show the art: “there must be no weakness in the face of the enemies of democracy, facing those who transform religion into a weapon of war… those who intend to destroy the Republic.”
This follows days after the brutal beheading of Professor Samuel Paty by a radicalized Islamist.
Charlie Hebdo cartoons, including one of Mohammed, projected onto Montpellier government building. pic.twitter.com/pnhU0EXTsc
Samuel Paty, who lived in the greater Paris area was murdered on Friday by a Muslim immigrant terrorist because he showed the cartoons to his students as part of an exercise to enjoy the right freedom of expression.
In 2015, Islamist gunmen carried out a deadly attack in the offices of Charlie Hebdo and many of the paper’s editorial staff were killed. Right now fifteen individuals are under trail for the terror attack in a Paris court. Two brothers, Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, carried out the terror attack because the magazine published cartoons of Mohammed, and justified the killing under Islamic law.
Before attacks were against Charlie Hebdo cartoons and the beheading of Samuel Paty, the French teacher, Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten was the subject of several terror attack plots since it “published an image of Mohammed wearing a bomb in his turban in 2005.”
However, it seems Friday’s attack was the proverbial “hay that broke the camel’s back” and has prompted a strong response from the French government. Already, the French government has been aiding individuals and organisations that expressed support for the attack and attacker.
The French government under the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron have now taken strong measures by dissolving extremist Islamist organisations in the country that had the permission to operate.
One mosque that justified the action of the Islamic terrorist issued an apology for its actions this week, insisting that it was not foreseeable that the call could lead to someone being killed. However, despite the apology, orders have been given to shut the mosque.
The Chennai Police had nabbed a gang that stole, hijacked and sold Royal Enfield two-wheelers a few days ago. Seven people that included Mohammad Nabi, CB, Ibrahim, Antony, Amir Khan and Kadhiravan were arrested. The police investigation revealed that they were operating as gold snatchers and were involved in bike theft and chain snatching while working in food delivery companies during the day. For the past three years, criminals have been using the uniforms of Swiggy, Zomato and Amazon to steal and sell Royal Enfield motorbikes.
Chennai Police Commissioner Mahesh Agarwal has ordered an inquiry into the criminal background of the new recruits.
Following this incident, the Chennai Police has ordered online food delivery companies to hire new people only after the candidates obtain a conduct certificate from the police.
It has also been found that these criminals in the guise of delivery agents are involved in drug trafficking, burglary and chain robbery. Therefore, in order not to curb these incidents, the Chennai City Police has ordered the online business and food delivery companies to obtain a certificate of conduct from the police before recruiting new people for their companies.
Sangeetha, a 60 year old transwoman who opened the Covai Trans Kitchen, a restaurant entirely run by transpersons was found brutally murdered at her residence in Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore.
The murder had come to light after an acquaintance of Sangeetha had reported her to be missing for a few days.
Sangeetha was the president of the District Transgender Association in Coimbatore. She had set up the Covai Trans Kitchen in RS Puram area of Coimbatore just about an year ago.
According to reports, people who had been working with Sangeetha had been trying to reach her mobile but to no avail. Concerned, a couple of people working with Sangeetha visited her house and found it to be locked. Meanwhile, the owner of the house had complained of foul smell emanating from the house.
Sangeetha was found dead at her one bedroom residence with her throat slit and the body placed in a plastic drum with salt sprinkled over to delay the decomposition process. The recovered body was sent to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
The motive behind the murder is yet to be found. The police have registered a case under Section 302 (murder) and have formed two special teams to investigate the matter.
Sangeetha had been running a restaurant and had helped jobless transgender people to set up restaurants in Coimbatore during the lockdown. She had helped set up the Covai Trans Kitchen, which is entirely run by trans people. They specialise in biryani.
Speaking to The Commune, Intersex activist and National Council for Transgender Persons member Gopi Shankar Madurai said that ze is closely following the case with district authorities. Ze has called for a through investigation from ‘all angles’ including for questioning within the community.
Senior trans rights activist Priya Babu who helped Sangeetha set up the kitchen who is also following the case said that justice must be ensure to the deceased.
BJP State General Secretary Mrs. Vanathi Srinivasan called Sangeetha a committed person from the transgender community who served food with love and care. She has condemned the attack and has appealed to the Coimbatore City Police to investigate the matter.
Shocking … Such a committed person to the transgender community, , who served food for us with love and care in Trans kitchen last month .@policecbecity and @Sumitips , please investigate& find out the truth .
With the DMK chief MK Stalin issuing statements every other day against the State and Central government for every policy brought, Tamil Nadu Minister R.B. Udhayakumar on Tuesday came down heavy on the former and said that the DMK hold the distinction of having been the only party in power that was dismissed for corruption.
The DMK has been criticizing the State government headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami saying that the COVID crisis has been mismanaged by the government and that there has been corruption in the procurement of testing and PPE kits.
Speaking at inauguration of a development work in Thirumangalam near Madurai, Revenue and Disaster Management and Information Technology Minister R.B. Udhayakumar said “The spread of corona has come under control in Tamil Nadu due to intensive measures taken by the state government. After three months, the number of corona infections in Tamil Nadu has come down to less than 4,000. The DMK leader MK Stalin has been sitting in AC and room criticizing the government and he blames the AIADMK government as a corrupt government.”
Recalling the pesticide scam, Veernam project scam, and the sugar scams referred in the Sarkaria Commission, the Minister said that the DMK government remains the only government in the country to have been dismissed for corruption.
“People have not forgotten the 2G spectrum scam which surpassed the Watergate scandal of the US”, the Minister said.
“Stalin has said that if the DMK comes to power, a new light would be born in the lives of the people. Stalin should know that it was the DMK that plunged Tamil Nadu into darkness during its last regime and it was Amma [J. Jayalalithaa], who became Tamil Nadu’s beacon.” the Minister said.
With China refusing to dial down the tension in Ladakh, India has increased the pace of rapid infrastructure development in this region to bolster road connectivity and allow its troops year-long accesses, the India Today reported.
New Delhi has plans to build at least 10 tunnels running up to 100 km in Ladakh and Kashmir that will allow the army and the civilian’s smooth movement throughout the year across mountain passes to forward locations.
The task to build these tunnels is going to be a monumental task, as some of these are at heights more than 17,000 feet and these tunnels will be all-weather connectivity.
The much-needed Atal Tunnel built at the altitude of 10,000 feet in Rohtang was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3 and this pass has now significantly cut travel time between Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Leh, Ladakh. Also, now the people of Lahaul and Spiti in the hill state will have year-long connectivity.
“The 5 km tunnel is planned at Shinku La (pass). It might take another three years. But once it’s complete it will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh,” Lt Gen Harpal Singh Director General Border Roads Organisation was quoted saying in India Today after the inauguration of Atal Tunnel on October 3.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is spearheading all the projects and has proposed eight tunnels that will improve connectivity to Ladakh, and similar projects have also been proposed in Kashmir linking roads to the Line of Control.
However, Beijing has strong reservations to India’s road construction close to the Line of Actual Control which her right, and New Delhi has maintained there is no “violation of existing protocols”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) that has enhanced connectivity to areas leading up to the Line of Actual Control as there is no end in sight with regards to the India-China standoff.
For decades, the policy was not to develop any infrastructure in Ladakh to ensure China is not antagonised, however, the Chinese aggression at the LAC has prompted a relook at the current strategy and expedited several infrastructure projects.
“Without tunneling, all-weather connectivity is not possible because of the heavy snow. The tunnels have been planned keeping in mind the need for road connectivity to the forward most locations,” said an official.
One of the most ambitious projects is to build tunnels at an altitude of 17,800 feet to provide alternate connectivity to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and Depsang Plains in Eastern Ladakh. The Daulat Beg Oldie airfield is very crucial to our military operations and its strategic value cannot be measured.
“A tunnel of about 10 km is needed at Saser La to ensure the 100 km alternate route to DBO can be used through the year. 50 km stretch from Sasoma to Saser La is almost complete but a tunnel is a must beyond this,” said an official privy to the details of the project.
The massive infrastructure projects to build roads, tunnels, and bridges will also provide better connectivity between Siachen Glacier and DBO in Eastern Ladakh and will ensure India has the ability for rapid troop deployment and logistics against China or Pakistan.
Atrocities committed on Dalits by DMK
The DMK and its sympathizers planted in several domains including mainstream media, keep thumping their chest about how DMK is the only party that upholds social justice and stands shoulder to shoulder with the downtrodden. However their fabricated false history and the halo that they have built around themselves is now being shattered, thanks to the information revolution and social media. But one need not take the trouble to go back and research about their history to understand their casteist, despotic and oppressive mindset. Of late, their own senior leaders have been spilling it out in the open. Here is a list of some of the instances of DMK’s atrocities on Dalits for which they have got a free pass.
1. Kizhvenmani massacre
C.N. Annadurai, who took over as DMK’s first chief minister after fierce language movement against then ruling congress party in the year 1967.However sooner towards the end of 1968 the infamous incident of lynching and burning of 44 agricultural labourers belonging to the Scheduled Caste over wage struggles happened in Kizhavenmani village. Women’s rights activist and writer Mythily Sivaraman’s book “Haunted By Fire” captures how DMK for the sake of getting other caste vote, completely left the victims and tried to erase this incident from public memory. On January 12, 1969, their ideological icon ‘Periyar’ did not even condemned the incident. He said that wage is not something that can be demanded, but is fixed by the market. Till now the DMK and its stooges do not utter a word or look the other when this is brought up. Worse, the even lie or be in denial about it.
2. Humiliating Dalit woman leaders
During Karunanidhi’s second term as Chief Minister, Dalit woman leader Sathyavani Muthu resigned from the ministry and left the DMK to start her own party Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. Ten MLAs, two MLCs and an MP jointly signed a resignation letter in support of Sathyavani Muthu but later retracted owing to political pressure.
At the time of leaving the party, she angrily told “We will form a new party, sit on the opposition benches, and fight for the rights of Schedules Castes. We will not let them be exploited and humiliated endlessly“. Also in her speech she said after Dr. Ambedkar nobody has in right intention has helped Dalits. Sathyavani later joined the AIADMK and served as Central Minister in Charan Singh government.
3. Other instance Dalit leaders discriminated by the party
The DMK’s history of discriminating Dalit leaders traces its history to the period of its parent organization Justice Party under ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramaswamy. M.C. Rajah severed ties with Justice Party over its treatment of Dalits.
Former MP, the late C. T. Dhandapani was publicly insulted on the basis of his caste by the then local minister Pongalur Palanisamy and his wife both of whom belonged to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, an OBC caste.
Dalit leaders like Parithi Ilamvazhuthi who ironically defeated Sathyavani Muthu in 1984 elections quit the party in 2013 and joined the AIADMK citing lack of respect in the party.
V.P. Duraiswami who is now with the BJP quit the party for the same reasons.
This discrimination continues till date even at the grassroots with Dalit leaders being meted out with unfair treatment.
4. Manjolai massacre
After very brief hiatus, DMK came back to power in 1996. Karunanidhi took over as CM for the fourth time. The years between 1996 and 2001 remains one of the darkest period in Tamil Nadu with respect to caste clashes. With renewed focus on reservation after Mandal commission, Karunanidhi was unable to handle the pulls and pressures of each caste group all across southern Tamil Nadu. It eventually headed to towards attack on Dalits on various places by dominant caste groups. There are lot of literature available detailing each and every caste based incident which happened in Southern districts during the period of 1996-2001.
One such bloody incident when the law and order went for a toss state is the Manjolai massacre. On 23 July 1999, a large number of labourers from the tea estates of Manjolai (mostly Dalits) congregated in Tirunelveli and marched towards the collectorate demanding the release of a number of estate workers, who were arrested earlier for staging protest demanding better wages. The workers were being paid Indian ₹70 per day then and they were demanding the wage to be increased to ₹100. The workers were also demanding maternity leave, periodical breaks for women during the eight-hour-long duty. They were also opposing the decision of the estate owners to force workers to stay in sheds with poor facilities and deny right to rear cattle or even raise gardens. A large contingent of stone throwing and lathi-wielding police brutally assaulted the protesters forcing them to run towards the river.
As police continued to chase them to the river, many got into the river and drowned. It resulted in death of 17 labourers, including two women and a two-year-old child, when they got into the river to escape.
A Tamil language documentary titled ‘Oru Nathiyin Maranam’ (Death of a River) released in 1999 exposes the DMK government’s negligence on the life of tea estate workers life and safety.
5. Sidelining Dalit representatives
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanniyarasu in an interview to a Tamil news channels had said that during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections the VCK had asked for contesting from a general (unreserved) constituency to which Karunanidhi had supposedly said “You gus don’t aspire for general seats”.
The DMK practices casteism and untouchability even in allotment ministerial births to their own party people and alliance parnters. While dominant caste groups are given weighty portfolios, Dalit leaders are given portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Adi-Dravidar Welfare. This was echoed by even VCK founder leader Thol. Thirumavalavan in the year 2011.
6. Scanty representation of Dalits in the party
The population of Dalits is around 1.40 crore in Tamil Nadu but their representation in DMK’s powerful body is only 1.65% during the year 2018. There has never been a Dalit who had helmed the party. Until A. Raja was elevated to ‘Deputy’ General Secretary, the Dalits were never put in higher decision making bodies. The party’s much coveted and powerful post of District Secretary remains confined to dominant caste groups. Only 1 District Secretary out of the 65 is a Dalit.
7. Usurping Panchami lands
Panchami land is the land assigned to be distributed for the Scheduled Caste people in Tamil Nadu during the British rule in 1892. It can neither be sold nor re-classified. There are lot of instances of panchami land being appropriated by DMK workers and leaders. In 2019 there was serious allegation raised that the Chennai office of DMK mouthpiece Murasoli is constructed on Panchami land. The Murasoli building is located in Kodambakkam, one of the prominent areas in Chennai. It was PMK founder leader DR S. Ramadoss who raised the issue, a few days before the bypolls to Vikravandi and Nanguneri constituencies .Responding to Ramadoss’s charge, Stalin shared the 1985 deed of the Murasoli land. But BJP’s Tada Periyasamy, said only the original documents dating back to 1923 permanent register can prove if Murasoli office is located in Panchami land or not. After few months of grabbing headlines the entire issue is now in back burner with DMK unable to prove anything on it is not a Panchami land. The case is now pending with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
8. “If Dalits are judges today, it is the ‘alms’ given by the Dravidian movement”
Speaking at an event in the DMK youth wing headquarters, in February of this year, the DMK MP had said it was due to the alms (picchai) given by the Dravidian Movement that persons from SC community became judges.
A case was slapped on the DMK MP under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The Madras High Court hearing the case told the DMK’s Rajya Sabha MP and Organizing Secretary RS Bharathi that he should make responsible statements considering befitting of the position he holds.
9. “Are we depressed class people to be treated this way?”
In May 2020, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Secretary to submit the petitions received under DMK’s propaganda banner “Ondrinaivom Vaa” said “Engalai moondram thara makkal pol nadathinaargal. Naangal enna thaazhthapatta aatkala?”(They treated us like third-class people. What are we? Depressed class people?)”
These are very few instances where DMK has neglected Dalit interests for the sake getting into power with majoritarian caste votes.Dalit parties which are aligned with DMK has to seriously think about the interests of Dalit people in mind and should oppose DMK for its caste majoritarian politics.
10. “How dare you speak up against me?”
In June 2020, a DMK office bearer in Tiruvannamalai district thrashed a Dalit youth belonging to Dravida Kazhagam (DMK’s parent organization) and verbally abused him using casteist slurs.
The accused Karunanidhi, leader of Parayampattu gram panchayat beat up Ramkumar a young graduate belonging to the same village and who was a youth wing leader of Dravida Kazhagam’s Tiruvannamalai unit.
Ramkumar was a riding his bike near the banks of the village lake at around 10 AM on May 15. Karunanidhi riding pillion with another man named Dharman is said to have come in the opposite direction and collided on Ramkumar’s bike. Ramkumar had responded angrily saying that both the parties would have been hurt badly if they had come in speed.
“Can’t you see me and Thalaivar (leader) coming? You should have made way on seeing us” Dharman is said to have responded using abusive language. Ramkumar had then gotten into a war of words. Irked, Karunanidhi got off from the bike and started beating Ramkumar with slippers hitting his face and chest.
“How dare you raise your voice and speak against me? Should have thrown you guys outside the village a long time back. Since that wasn’t done, you got enough courage to speak up against us is it?” said Karunanidhi using casteist slurs.
Karunanidhi’s brother Parthasarathy who was passing by started using casteist slurs against Ramkumar without inquiring into the incident “You earn your livelihood by beating drums. Don’t even have the ability to pay back debts! How dare you speak against my brother?” Parthasarathy is reported to have said who also started thrashing Ramkumar.
Coming to know of the incident Ramkumar’s mother hurried to the spot who was also beaten with slippers by DMK man Karunanidhi and his brother.
Ramkumar is later said to have reported the incident at Thachampattu Police Station where his complaint was initially rejected. After a long hiatus, an FIR was registered. Later, Thachampattu Block Councillor Ramanan of the DMK had threatened Ramkumar to withdraw the case.
The Thachampattu Police registered cases against 6 members including Karunanidhi.
11. Dalit cadre made to carry slippers of DMK MLA
In July 2020, a video of a Dalit office bearer of the DMK, carrying the slippers of DMK MLA from Ambur A.C. Vilwanathan went viral.
The DMK MLA had gone to visit the rain-damaged barrier at Ponnappally village of Arangaldurgam Panchayat in Thirupatthur district on June 30. A few DMK members, including Venkatasamudram Panchayat Secretary Shankar, accompanied him. The area being slippery, the DMK MLA had removed his slippers to walk freely. The DMK MLA can be seen walking ahead while Sankar follows carrying the MLA’s slippers in his hands. Sankar belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
Sankar had however refuted the criticism mounted on the MLA saying that the he was not asked by the MLA to carry the slippers. Sankar added that it was him who carried the slippers voluntarily.
12. Dalit panchayat leader made to sit on the floor by DMK office bearers
Rajeswari (37), the a Panchayat President of Chidambaram South Thittai Panchayat in Cuddalore district was made to sit on the floor by Panchayat Secretary Sindhuja and Vice President of the Panchayat Council Mohanraj belonging to the DMK.
In the panchayat meeting held on July 17, Rajeswari was made to sit on the floor while the other members sat on chairs. She was also not allowed hoist the National Flag on Independence Day.
Rajeswari hails from the Adi Dravidar community. Both Sindhuja and Mohanraj were charged under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Rajeswari later joined the AIADMK.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. The list however is never ending. The Dravidian idea of social justice is nothing but social justice for the already wealthy and powerful dominant caste and not for the oppressed and downtrodden.