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In a bizarre incident in Erode district, two alleged chicken thieves, M Naveenkumar and Kirubakaran were assaulted, and when they asked for drinking water, men from upper caste community urinated in their mouths. On November 27, CM Stalin unveiled a statue of former PM VP Singh and clamoured for a national caste census to implement reservation. He highlighted that social justice is the antidote to these problems, and these measures are important for social justice to thrive.
It was on November 20 that the two Dalit men, M Naveenkumar and Kirubakaran, had their motorcycle stolen, and a group of men forced them to remain in the area until dawn. The next morning, when Naveenkumar requested them to return of their bike, he and his accomplice were attacked by a group of armed men with iron rods.Naveenkumar reported that more than ten individuals, allegedly from the Gounder community, including Kannusamy, the husband of Kadukkamapalayam panchayat president, joined the assault.
Shockingly, when the victims pleaded for water, the attackers not only refused but also urinated into their mouths, accompanied by caste-based abuses.
This incident has raised concerns about social justice, prompting Chief Minister Stalin to unveil a statue of former PM VP Singh on November 27, advocating for a national caste census to implement reservation policies. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by marginalised communities despite the much-touted Dravidian model of social justice.”
In response to the brutal assault on M Naveenkumar and Kirubakaran in Vengamedu, Erode, the police have registered a case based on the victims’ complaint under relevant sections of the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. FIRs have been filed against Kannuswamy and another individual, not only for the caste-based assault but also for an alleged attempt to steal chickens from a local farm.
The National Commission for SC/ST is poised to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the incident involving the affected youths. Meanwhile, Vadivelraman, leader of the Social Justice People Katchi (Samooga Needhi Makkal Katchi), has called for a protest demanding the immediate arrest of the attackers.
This incident is not an isolated case in Tamil Nadu, as earlier this month, Thachanallur police arrested six individuals from the MBC community for assaulting and mistreating two Scheduled Caste men in Tirunelveli district. In November, the family of a 16-year-old Scheduled Caste boy who died by suicide in Pudukkottai district alleged caste-based harassment and assault by students from the Other Backward Community (OBC).
The prevalence of such incidents has sparked a renewed call for a national caste census by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. During the unveiling of former PM VP Singh’s statue, Stalin emphasised the need for proper implementation of reservation for backward classes, SC/ST, and minorities. However, this move has raised questions about the dynamics within the I.N.D.I. Alliance, particularly the relationship between the DMK and Congress.
DMK’s inclination to distance itself from Congress has led to speculation about the alliance’s stability, with DMK possibly seeking a national role in politics. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed concerns about DMK’s recent actions, especially in relation to the LTTE leader Prabakaran, highlighting potential discord within the alliance.”
G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Dravidian Stock and self-proclaimed environmental activist, shared a clipping of a video interview ( in Tamil) of DMK MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian. Here is a transcript of the clipping of a rapid-fire question segment.
Interviewer: If you could dine with any historical figure, who would it be?
Thamizhachi: Honourable National Leader Prabhakaran
Interviewer: What would you ask the person?
Thamizhachi: I would apologise; I would ask his pardon for that Mullaivaikal tragedy.
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