DMK Member of Parliament Andimuthu Raja has come under severe criticism from the Arundathiyar community for his recent remarks, branding them as manual scavengers and a minority in their region. Known for his provocative rhetoric and contentious statements, Raja’s latest comments have sparked outrage and demands for an apology. Arunthathiyar community threatened to organize a statewide protest if DMK leader A Raja did not apologize.
During a DMK party’s booth-level agents meeting a few days ago, the former central minister allegedly made disparaging remarks about the Arundathiyar community. He was quoted as saying, “Though Arunthathiyar community, who indulge in manual scavenging cleaning human excreta, is a minority community in that region who are not numerically strong as far as votes are concerned, Karunanidhi granted them 3% reservation. This does not mean I am belittling them.”
The remarks have not only been viewed as derogatory but have also raised concerns about their potential to fuel division and resentment among different communities in the state.
Members of the Arunthathiyar community have expressed their grievances, stating that they have more than 60 lakh people in their community. They highlight that their community received special attention from the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who established a committee chaired by Justice Janardhanan. This committee recommended internal reservation for the Arunthathiyar community, resulting in 3% reservation in education and employment. Despite this, they feel targeted and isolated under the present government led by CM M K Stalin, asserting that their concerns and interests remain unaddressed, and they are continuously neglected.
In response to DMK MP A Raja’s recent controversial remarks branding them as manual scavengers and a minority community, the Arunthathiyar community has demanded a public apology. They vow to organize protests until Raja tenders his apology, with various organizations jointly participating in these demonstrations. They call upon Chief Minister Stalin to take responsibility for ensuring Raja’s apology.
Raja’s history of making controversial statements is not new. During the Erode East by-poll campaigning on February 19, 2023, he made casteist remarks targeting AIADMK and BJP leaders belonging to the Gounder caste.
Reacting to the opposition against erecting a statue for DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, DMK MP A Raja expressed his views by stating that it was because of Karunanidhi that Edappadi Palaniswami studied till BA, Vanathi Srinivasan pursued law, and Annamalai became an IPS officer. He emphasized that it was Karunanidhi’s pen that helped them in their educational and social upliftment, enabling them to be classified into the Backward Class category. Raja further highlighted that without the influence of Karunanidhi’s pen, their lives might have taken different paths, with Annamalai potentially rearing goats, Edappadi Palaniswami doing agricultural labor, and Vanathi Srinivasan picking coconuts on a coconut farm.
During the 2021 Assembly election campaign A. Raja attacked Edappadi K. Palaniswami by saying “Edappadi Palaniswami was born premature and was born out of an illegitimate relationship.” while hailing his leader MK Stalin.
In January 2023, DMK MP A Raja, who was the special guest at the 157th-anniversary function of Kunnoor Anthoniyaar School, Nilgiri District, said: “When we talk about education in India, it becomes a popular topic in today’s political environment. Credits should be given to the British for making education available to even the ordinary people when it had been denied for 3,000 years.” He added “Schools founded by Christian organisations continue to teach about our history. Christianity was the first religion in the world to accept that common people in this society should have access to education. Students recited verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran. Students who spoke before me stated that all religions are equal. However, saying this does not imply that I am opposed to any religion.”
In September 2022, A Raja said, “You’re a Shudra till you remain a Hindu. You’re a son of the prostitute till you remain a Shudra. You’re a Panchaman (Dalit) till you remain a Hindu. You’re an untouchable till you remain a Hindu. How many of you wish to stay as children of prostitutes? How many of you wish to remain untouchable? Only if we’re vocal about these questions, it will become elemental in breaking Santhana (Sanatana Dharma).”, the DMK MP said adding that the time has come for Viduthalai, Murasoli, DMK, and DK to take up the issue.
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