Strong stand: PMK president Anbumani Ramdas leads a protest against the state government in Kancheepuram.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday criticized the DMK government for not implementing the Supreme Court verdict, which said 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars within the Most Backward Class category can be provided if there is relevant data to justify the need.
He also criticized the state government for not being able to conduct a caste census. However, Dr. Anbumani promised to support DMK in 2026 assembly elections if 15% internal reservation is granted to Vanniyars. “I will tell Mr. Stalin that if he completes this, we will support the DMK unconditionally, and will not ask for any seat. But if not, we will go door to door with the message that the Chief Minister is an enemy of Vaniyan. We know how to do it,” he said in Kancheepuram. said
Leading the state-wide protest against the DMK government over internal reservation, Dr. Anbumani said that the Supreme Court has clearly said that quota can be allotted to Vaniyars after collecting the data. “A thousand days have passed since this verdict. The Dravidian model government is asleep. Or rather, it’s acting like it’s sleeping. We condemn the DMK government. Chief Minister MK Stalin, if you believed in social justice, you would have wanted to give or at least give reservation to this oppressed community. He said.
Dr. Anbumani further said, “When Edappadi K. Palaniswami was the Chief Minister, Dr. Ramadoss did not want any seat (as an alliance) and demanded only internal reservation. We don’t care about elections. Oppressed and backward communities should be developed…’
A Hatred: Ramdas
Leading a demonstration near Villupuram’s central bus stand, PMK founder S. Ramdas said that the DMK has harbored hatred towards the Vanniyars ever since it came to power, and has been denying reservation for the community.
He added that the DMK will not return to power in the 2026 assembly elections. “It will be taught an appropriate lesson by the people of the state,” he added.
Highlighting the need for ethnic census, Dr. Ramdas blamed the DMK for failing to capitalize on opportunities to conduct exercises in 1989, 2010 and 2021.
According to the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, States are empowered to conduct census. This has been reiterated by the High Court and the Supreme Court. Accordingly, Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have successfully conducted the census, he pointed out. “Yet, Mr. Stalin says that the state has no right…,” he said, adding that the survey was also important to protect the 69% reservation in the state.
published – December 25, 2024 at 12:28 pm IST