Thirumavalavan clarifies he did not make adverse comments against Vanniyar people

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said he had not made any adverse comments against people belonging to Vanniyar community

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader, Thol. Thirumavalavan, on Monday said he had not made any adverse comments against people belonging to Vanniyar community, but only criticised the Pattali Makkal Katchi advocate, K.Balu, for “instigating” people of Melpathi in connection with a temple-related problem.

Addressing a public meeting organised in Madurai to protest against attack on Dalits at Thirumogur near here, the MP claimed all through his political career he had never spoken ill of any community though Dalits were under their attack.

According to him, Mr. Balu’s assurance to Vanniyar people, who had prevented entry of Dalits into Droupadiamman temple in Melpathi of Villupuram district, of maintaining the temple’s tradition (of not allowing Dalits to offer prayers) and take it up even with Supreme Court was only an instigation against the Dalits.

“Why should the Dalits, who pay tax and donation for the temple, be not allowed inside it? Is Mr. Balu’s assurance not illegal? Is he not misguiding his own community people,” Mr. Thirumavalavan asked.

He alleged the PMK was trying to misguide and exploit the “casteist sentiments” of the community people.

Mr. Thirumavalavan charged the “social engineering” taken up by PMK founder, S. Ramadoss, by mobilising various backward classes people against the Dalits, led to the riots in Dharmapuri. “Dr. Ramadoss is the father of casteist and regressive forces in Tamil Nadu,” he claimed. In his view, only after formation of PMK from a caste association, “did many caste outfits turned into political parties in the State, where the political narrative had remained social justice, equality, women’s rights and State autonomy”.

The MP claimed he had always tried to prevent enmity and clashes between Dalits and other communities and never instigated violence.