Smt. Rajeswari, belonging to Scheduled Caste community, is the Chairman of the South Tittai Panchayat near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu. She recently complained to District Collector against Panchayat Deputy Chairman Mohanraj (DMK) and Panchayat Secretary Sindhuja. Her complaint was that in the Panchayat Council meeting held on July 17th Mohanraj had insulted her by compelling her to sit on the floor. His arrogance was that as a SC person, Rajeswari cannot sit on her official seat on par with dominant caste members. She said that this was not the first instance of such a humiliation meted out to her. This came as a shock to the public of Tamil Nadu. The government has since intervened and arrested Sinduja. Mohanraj is absconding.
Similar incidents have been happening at regular intervals in Tamil Nadu.
1.In 1997, Melavalavu Panchayat in the vicinity of Melur in Madurai district was classified as Reserved for scheduled castes. However, due to the intimadition of the dominant communities, none of the eligible persons from scheduled castes (Pariyars in this case) could contest for the panchayat president position. Seven people were assassinated, including Murugesan, the panchayat leader who won the election despite opposition. As long as, DMK was in power till 2011, no effective step was taken towards empowerment of the oppressed communities.
2.Similarly, during the said period, in the same Madurai District in the 3 villages – Papapatti, Keerippatti, Nattarmangalam election for Panchayat Heads could not be conducted for the sole reason that the panchayat head position was reserved for SC community.
3.Smt. Amritham hails from Athuppakkam area near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district. Once again, this SC lady is the Chairman of the Panchayat Council. She was stopped from hoisting the national flag by the Panchayat Deputy Chairman on the last Independence Day. It is painful that such incidents continue to take place. The DMK is behind many of the incidents.
“Why DMK leader Stalin, who pretends to be the guardian of the SC, did not lend his voice in support of the aggrieved Rajeswari, South Tittai or Amritham, Athuppakkam, Tiruvallur district?” asks TADA Periyasamy, a prominent leader of BJP SC/ST Wing. Further he observes that the DMK party member display caste superiority and arrogance while dealing with members of SC / ST community.
“Thus, the SC / ST panchayat leaders continue to be subjected to untouchability. I request the State government to set up a committee to assess the status of SC / ST panchayat leaders across Tamil Nadu “ demands Periyasamy.
Post Script:
- BJP delegation met Smt. Rajeswari and expressed solidarity with her.
- Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi leaders are eloquently silent on this matter as the perpetrator of the atrocity, Mohanraj belongs to DMK. VCK can not afford to antagonise DMK because for their very survival they are dependent upon DMK. Particularly, today Ravikumar of VCK became MP from Ariyalur contesting on DMK symbol. Just to cover up their failures, Ravikumar is raising a demand for hiking SC reservation in Central government jobs from 18% to 21%. We are not against reservation per se; however, what we fail to understand is, unless and until the men in authority repose faith upon equality and implement the constitutional safeguards in letter and spirit, how will the situation on the ground will improve?
