Cadre of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) held a protest at Shastri Bhavan in Chennai on Tuesday (7 March 2023) claiming that people from other states and those from upper castes especially Brahmins were getting central government jobs in Tamil Nadu.
They also demanded reservation in the appointment of judges for the Supreme Court and High Court and that priority be given to Tamils from the backward communities in Central government jobs in the state. They also are said to have indulged in sloganeering against the Central government, held placards, and also tried to break the police cordon.
The important aspect of the protest was the use of children who were also brought to the protest site on a school day with exams around the corner.
Chennai | Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) cadres hold protest in front of Shastri Bhawan demanding reservation in the appointment of Supreme Court and High Court judges and priority be given to Tamils in the appointment of Central govt jobs in Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/wSWDeEaf84
— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2023
The Supreme Court during the anti-CAA protests in 2019 took suo motu cognizance to stop the involvement of children and infants in demonstrations following the death of a four-month-old infant at Shaheen Bagh on January 30 in Delhi.
Complaints have been filed with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) earlier against organizations which had used minor children in political protests. In October 2022, a complaint was lodged with the NCPCR against DMK and its leaders for using minor children in political protests.
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