CM Stalin has betrayed Vanniyar community: Anbumani Ramadoss

PMK president accuses CM Stalin of betraying Vanniyar community, demands internal reservations, highlights historical figures from community.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has betrayed the Vanniyar community by refusing to provide internal reservations for Vanniyars within the MBC quota [a legislation providing internal reservation for the community was quashed by the Supreme Court].

Addressing a massive Vanniyar Youth rally organised by the Vanniyar Sangam in Mamallapuram, he said Mr Stalin had assured he will implement the reservations “but changed his mind”.

The PMK leader said, “1136 days have passed since the verdict striking down the reservations for Vanniyars was passed. We met the CM so many times. He welcomed us and assured he will implement the reservations. Once when I said the next academic year would be affected, the CM said he will convene a special Assembly session. Suddenly, he changed his opinion. For two years, he assured us.”

According to him, the Chief Minister had pointed out Vanniyar reservations cannot be given without conducting caste census which can be done only by the Central government. “This is a lie he repeated in State Assembly and in public. This is a big betrayal. Does the Tamil Nadu government have no powers to take caste survey? Then, how did your father and M.G.R. do it? How was the Sattanathan Commission formed by your father? And how did Ambasankar Commission do door-to-door enumeration?” he asked Mr Stalin.

He shared his view that two Vanniakula Kshatriyas were instrumental in the implementation of reservations for Other Backward Classes in India. One was V. Anaimuthu who had a role in establishing the Mandal Commission and the other, was his father and PMK founder S. Ramadoss for implementation of reservations of OBCs.

Dr. Anbumani claimed many important historical figures have not been recognised because they were born into the Vanniyar community. They are being used by the political establishment just as a ‘vote bank’.

“First martyr in Sathyagraha movement in South Africa was Nagappan Padaiyachi from Mayiladuthurai. Why doesn’t nobody know this? Because he is a Padaiyachi. Next is Anjalai Ammal....Gandhi came in person to see her. Shouldn’t she be recognised as freedom fighter? V. Anaimuthu was the true heir to Periyar, unlike others who claim to be his heir. He went to North India to create awareness and organised protests and was instrumental in establishing Mandal Commission. Otherwise, there would be no OBC reservations in India,” he said.