News Tamil Nadu

DMK Reappoints Functionary Who Was Booked Under SC/ST Act; Hindu Munnani Questions VCK’s Silence

October 18, 2023
The Commune

DMK union secretary Manickam, who was previously removed from his post for allegedly defaming a Scheduled Caste youth visiting Periya Mariamman temple, has once again assumed charge.

DMK’s Salem East district south union secretary, D Manickam, was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This arrest follows his abuse of a 23-year-old youth who had entered the sanctum of Mariamman temple during a festival on the night of 26 January 2023 in Thirumalaigiri.

The incident occurred when a section of people opposed the youth’s entry into the temple, prompting Manickam to publicly interrogate and abuse him on 27 January 2023. Shockingly, the incident was recorded by someone in the crowd and quickly circulated on social media. The video captured Manickam using derogatory language towards the SC youth for his temple entry, which was under the administration of HR&CE (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments).

In the above video, the DMK leader can be heard threatening “Hey! Look at me and tell. Will smash you. You don’t like the people of this village being well? Who asked you to go inside man? Tell man! (inaudible).. Were you sucking (uses equivalent cuss word in Tamil) last night? Who asked you to go? You won’t be able to stay in this village, mind you!”

“For the sake of everyone’s welfare and the welfare of the village, I am sitting here without sleeping every dawn for the last fifteen days, puluthi p*nda (cuss word in Tamil) , you will talk about justice p*nda (cuss word in Tamil denoting female genitalia) is it?”, the DMK leader says.

“Hey you p*nda mavane! Will just whack you! K**dhi! (another cuss word denoting female genitalia) !…. Aren’t the people here men? You think you are better than the men here?”, the DMK leader goes on to intimidate the youth.

Abusing the person next to the youth, the DMK leader says “Who are you p*nda? Will whack you! Mind your work. You will die without food and water. You can’t go anywhere!”.

“K**dhi mavane (cuss word in Tamil), I have been asking you all to work, you are doing these kind of underground jobs p*nda is it?”, the DMK man yell.

DMK treasurer Durai Murugan took action by suspending Manickam from the party, underlining the party’s stance against such behavior. Following this disciplinary action within the party, the police registered a case under the SC/ST Act against Manickam, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Now the reinstatement has raised eyebrows, prompting inquiries from various quarters. Hindu Munnani, has questioned the DMK’s claims of commitment to equality and social justice.

Notably, Thirumavalavan, the leader of VCK, has maintained a conspicuous silence absence of  any visible protest against the reinstatement.

(With inputs from DT Next)

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