Latest news with #non-Dalits
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tiruchy church discrimination row: Bishop skips car procession
Speaking to TNIE, Collector V Saravanan said, 'We have constituted a peace committee to address the issue. The RDO will conduct an inquiry. The existing laws are clear.' However, when revenue officials tried to hold a mediation meeting locally, Dalit representatives insisted that either the Bishop or a senior diocesan official must be present. 'This is not simply Dalits versus non-Dalits issue. The church administration is part of the discrimination,' said J Doss Prakash, a Dalit Christian parishioner. 'The festival committee is entirely controlled by non-Dalits. We are denied basic rights like paying subscription or take part in the planning. Even after decades, not even a small chariot enters our streets.' he added. Adding weight to the protest, Bishop Jeevanandam Amalanathan boycotted the procession, citing the ongoing caste tensions and the diocese's alleged inability to resolve the matter. A peace meeting involving stakeholders is expected to be arranged later this week.
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
VCK and Congress MPs question TNCC president's decision to meet Ramadoss
Days after TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai called on PMK founder S. Ramadoss at his residence in Villupuram, fuelling speculation about a potential alliance, party's Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP, D. Ravikumar, questioned whether this was approved by the Congress high command. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ravikumar ruled out any possibility of an alliance with any faction of the PMK, even if it splits due to the ongoing power struggle between Dr. Ramadoss and his son, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. 'I initially thought that the Congress high command might have reached out to Dr. Ramadoss, wanting to keep its options open. However, Congress leader Manickam Tagore has made it clear that it was not a decision of the high command,' he said. Mr. Ravikumar clarified that the VCK would not tie up with any PMK faction. 'We don't care whether it is Dr. Ramadoss or Dr. Anbumani. We don't see them as separate. Has Dr. Ramadoss spoken against the BJP?.. Even if their party is heading for a split, we won't be part of the alliance that features either of them.' He further said: 'Such an alliance [VCK and PMK or its faction] won't be fruitful; it won't work at the grassroots level. Dr. Ramadoss was the one who fanned the flames of casteism. He was the one who tried to mobilise the non-Dalits against the Dalit community. We recognised him for what he did for social justice. But, the path he took has led to violence against Dalits and deaths. We will stand firm in our resolve to fight caste and religious polarisation.' Meanwhile, Mr. Tagore tagged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on X, and asked him how the PMK could be considered an ally of the INDIA bloc, when it has been supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. 'Why hurt those who stood with you through thick and thin, and continue to stand by People's Leader @Rahul Gandhi in every battle? This can't be a party decision — it seems purely personal,' he said in his post. 'Don't politicise it' In his response, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said he had repeated several times that the meeting was not to discuss about any possibility of an alliance, and that he had simply enquired after Dr. Ramadoss' health. 'I urge everyone to refrain from politicising or misrepresenting my meeting with Dr. Ramadoss. The attempts to portray it as a bid to form an alliance or see it as the Congress' opposition to the VCK should stop. I consider Dr. Thol. Thirumavalavan as my elder brother. Any decision about new alliance partners will be taken by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The All India Congress talks about uniting SC/ST/OBCs. Both the Congress and the VCK are united in opposing religious forces,' he said.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thirumavalavan blames bureaucracy for ‘bias' against Scheduled Castes
Despite being an ally of the ruling DMK, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi had to knock on the doors of the judiciary to obtain permission to stage democratic protests. Its leader Thol. Thirumavalavan recently candidly said: 'It has taken 25 years to get recognised as a State party. Many say I don't know how to I don't know to blackmail and be in politics like [PMK founder] Dr. Ramadoss. We are in alliance with the DMK, but we aren't given permission to protest over the Vadakadu issue.' Mr. Thirumavalavan further said caste atrocities were being seen as a 'law and order' issue by the bureaucrats and police. A. Kathir, who runs the NGO Evidence, and participated in a protest organised by the VCK in Vadakadu, alleged there was political interference within the bureaucracy in caste-related issues. 'I wouldn't say that bureaucracy operates only on hate against Dalits, but it also takes into account electoral considerations. For instance, only 12 people (from around 11 villages) have been arrested out of 300 persons who were involved in the attack against Dalits [in Vadakadu]. Police have arrested one person from each village. Why? They are trying to mobilise non-Dalits against Dalits. Also, the FIR says it is a fight between two groups, not an attack on Dalits. These decisions are taken by the bureaucracy with political calculations,' he said. Observers feel that not holding the political establishment accountable and putting the interests of the party before that of the people it represents could affect the chemistry between the VCK and DMK cadre. VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar said, 'Forcing political parties to seek permission from the courts is, in a way, an evasion of responsibility. Shifting executive responsibility onto the judiciary is undesirable, as it may, in the long run, encourage judicial encroachment into executive functions.'
