Strong stand: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss leading a protest against the State government in Kancheepuram.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday slammed the DMK government for not implementing the Supreme Court verdict, which said that the 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars within the Most Backward Classes category could be provided if there was relevant data justifying the need for it.
He also hit out at the State government for failing to conduct a caste-wise census. However, Dr. Anbumani pledged his support to the DMK in the 2026 Assembly election if Vanniyars were provided 15% internal reservation. “I tell Mr. Stalin that if he fulfils this, we will unconditionally support the DMK, and won’t demand any seat. But, if he doesn’t, we will go to every house with the message that the Chief Minister is an enemy of Vanniyars. We know how to do it,” he said in Kancheepuram.
Spearheading the State-wide protests against the DMK government over the internal reservation, Dr. Anbumani said the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the quota could be provided to Vanniyars after compiling data. “It has been a 1,000 days since the verdict. The Dravidian model government has been sleeping. Or rather, it is acting like it is sleeping. We condemn the DMK government. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, if you believe in social justice, you would have provided or at least been willing to provide reservation to this oppressed community..,” he said.
Dr. Anbumani further said, “When Edappadi K. Palaniswami was the Chief Minister, Dr. Ramadoss said he did not want any seat [as a part of the alliance] and only put forth the demand of internal reservation. We don’t care about elections. The oppressed and backward communities must grow…,”
An aversion: Ramadoss
Leading a demonstration near the Central Bus Stand in Villupuram, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said the DMK had an aversion towards Vanniyars ever since it came to power, and had been denying reservation for the community all along.
He further said that the DMK would not return to power in the 2026 Assembly election. “The people of the State will teach a fitting lesson to it,” he added.
Highlighting the need for a caste census, Dr. Ramadoss blamed the DMK for failing to make use of opportunities to conduct the exercise in 1989, 2010 and in 2021.
States, according to the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, have the right to conduct census. This has been reiterated by High Courts, and the Supreme Court. Accordingly, Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have conducted the census successfully, he pointed out. “Yet, Mr. Stalin says that the State does not have the right…,” he said, adding that the survey was also important in safeguarding the 69% reservation in force in the State.
Published – December 25, 2024 12:28 am IST