RTI reply reveals untouchability in Tamil Nadu is alarmingly high; BJP blames DMK, AIADMK
India Today
A reply to an RTI query about untouchability in Tamil Nadu revealed how alarmingly high the numbers and issues are. In TN, 445 villages are said to be atrocity-prone on the issue of untouchability. The BJP has said that the DMK and AIADMK were the reason for this.
An RTI field by an activist has shown that untouchability is alarmingly high in Tamilnadu. The BJP has blamed the “Kazhagam” parties (DMK, AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu for the issue.
The RTI filed by an activist, Karthik, revealed that in areas where the practice of untouchability is reportedly followed, 445 villages are atrocity-prone while 341 villages are dormant atrocity-prone.
Madurai seems to be at the top of the list with 43 active-prone villages and 61 dormant-prone villages, followed by Villupuram with 25 active-prone and 18 dormant-prone villages, and Tirunelveli with 24 active-prone villages and 16 dormant-prone villages.
Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a Dalit party, stated that untouchability is not only in Tamil Nadu, but all across India.
“I feel that this is a very small number. It should be much higher. This has to be eradicated across the country. Union and State governments should implement the SC/ ST Atrocities Prevention Act,” stated Thol Thirumavalavan.
BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy, however, blamed the “Kazhagams” (DMK and AIADMK) for the issue.
“People say this is Periyar’s land and now they have to answer. All this is because of politicians, and particularly because of Kazhagams. Untouchability is not because of sanatana dharma like Thirumavalavan says but is because of ugly, dirty politics created by DMK and DK,” said Narayanan Thirupathy.
