Brinda slams DMK, AIADMK for failing to stand up for dalits
Coimbatore: Slamming the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu for failing to stand up for the dalits, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday questioned the silence of these parties regarding the alleged atrocities perpetrated against them.
Addressing the public at a meeting organized by Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) in Coimbatore on Wednesday, organized to mark the 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, CPM polit buro member Brinda Karat charged that DMK, AIADMK and other Dravidian parties, have buried the principles of social justice in opportunistic politics.
What is the attitude of Dravidian parties in the fight against untouchability? Why are they silent when young couples are lynched to death in the state?” she asked referring to alleged honour killings in Tamil Nadu. Only the red flag and the TNUEF stands by the dalits, when there are honour killing, when dalits are denied entry into temples, when a discriminatory wall is built or when they are not permitted to bury their dead in the local cemetery,” she added.
Brinda Karat also came down heavily on backward castes resorting to caste discrimination. It is a matter of great shame and regret that castes that themselves claim to be oppressed are killing people who marry outside the caste,” she said. She said that such caste atrocities were only strengthening the Hindutva forces. She also took the opportunity to slam RSS, alleging that Hindutva elements were sabotaging the legacy of Ambedkar.
Accusing the BJP government for failing to convene a special session of the Parliament to discuss a welfare plan for dalits, Brinda Karat demanded a special law to provide reservation for dalits in the private sector. She said that reservation for dalits in the context of the present economic policies, where even the public sector is increasingly privatized, is becoming too far and few in the government sector. The government should extend reservation in private sector for dalits and adivasis,” she said.
She also sought a SC/ST special component plan for direct allocation of funds for the welfare of dalits.
Source: The Time of India
