Not a day goes by for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other Dravidian Stockists, without uttering the term ‘Dravida Model’.
This much-hyped Dravida Model premises itself on the ideals of self-respect and social justice.
Yet, every other day, there are instances of DMK Ministers talking and behaving in a way that shows a deeply entrenched feudal mindset.
KKSSR Ramachandran Accused Of Practicing Untouchability
Recently, the Government of India decided to include Kurivikarar alias Narikuravar community in the list of Scheduled Tribes that is set to benefit around 30,000 people of the community who have been having difficulties in getting government identification documents birth certificate, Aadhar card, ration card, etc.
However, a small party named Vanavengaigal led by Iraniyan has opposed the move saying that the Narikuravars/Kurivikarars trace their origins to Gujarat and have been confused and included with the Kuravar community of Tamil Nadu. The people of Malayadipatti village in Virudhunagar district and Iraniyan’s party has been protesting against the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre stating that it would affect the representation and concessions given to the native Kuravar community of the state.
Upon coming to know of the protest, DMK MLA from the region Thangapandian met with the protestors to pacify them. Later, the leader of the Vanvengaigal party was assured of a meeting with Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management KKSSR Ramachandran who also hails from the region. He was told that the Minister would help in setting up a meeting with CM Stalin to express their concerns.
On 23 September 2022, Iraniyan went to meet the DMK Minister at his residence in Greenways Road, Chennai. Dhanushkumar, the DMK MP from Tenkasi (who is also a Scheduled Caste) had also come to meet the Minister. Iraniyan was reportedly made to wait for more than 3.5 hours. He was apparently informed that the Minister had left for work when in fact the latter was sleeping inside.
After much persuasion, Iraniyan was asked to leave his slippers out and come inside. Despite having empty sofas around, Iraniyan was not asked ot sit. He gave his petition and had explained to the Minister the purpose of his visit. However, the DMK Minister reportedly blurted back saying “Is the CM your neighbour to come and see him as you please?”. He also asked them their caste and put his legs in cross upon hearing that he was from Kuravar community. When Iraniyan had come forward to turn the pages of the petition to explain the problem in details, he was asked to maintain distance. The Minister later rubbished his petition and was told that it had no merits and nothing can be done.
In the videos and pictures that have gone viral, the DMK Minister can be seen in a cut-baniyan and lungi with his legs crossed while Iraniyan can be seen standing.
In light of this, the Vanavengai party along with Scheduled Caste community have risen in protest against the Minister.
This is not the first time that KKSSR Ramachandran has been accused of objectionable behaviour. In July 2022, a middle-aged woman who had approached DMK Minister KKSSR Ramachandran seeking old age pension for her mother was hit on the head by the Minister with the petition paper she had given him.
Ponmudy’s Belittling Speech
On September 19, while inaugurating a ration shop at Manappoondi in Vizhupuram district, the DMK Minister who handles the higher education portfolio openly asked a panchayat union chairperson about the caste she belonged.
“Even your panchayat union chairperson is a woman from an oppressed community. See who’s the chairman of this village? You are from a downtrodden community right? You are an SC right?” he asked on stage.
And recently while speaking at a function, the DMK Minister made remarks in a belittling way while reminding women members in the audience about the ‘free bus scheme for women’ introduced by Stalin government.
“For you only 4000 rupees per card. Did he (Stalin) give or not? You got it right? Open your mouth and say. You got 4000 right? How are you going in bus today? If you want to go from here to Koyambedu or anywhere, you are going in ‘OC’ (free). You are going in ‘OC’ bus.”, he said.
Ponmudy has on several occassions ridiculed Hindi speakers as ‘Pani Poori sellers’.
KN Nehru Belittling A Scheduled Caste Mayor
A month ago, during a press conference, Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply K.N. Nehru belittled Chennai’s Mayor Priya who is a scheduled caste woman.
Raja Kannappan’s Casteist Abuse
DMK Minister Raja Kannapapan had reportedly abused a state government official with casteist slurs. He was threatened of transfer for not taking his orders.
After the issue gained traction, CM Stalin punished the Minister by changing his portfolio from transport to backward class welfare.
While this has been the conduct of the DMK Ministers, none of the self-proclaimed voices of the oppressed have even bothered to report about some of these incidents.
Prominent Dravidian Stockist outlet The News Minute has not reported on the incident of DMK Minsiter KKSSR Ramachandran accused of practicising untouchability. Neither has the outlet reported on the Ponmudi’s belittling speech about women travelling free in government bus.
During the AIADMK regime, the same outlet had reported the incident about then Forest Minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan asking a tribal boy to remove his slippers.
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