VCK won’t deviate from Ambedkar’s ideas to achieve temporary growth: Thirumavalavan

VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan emphasizes adherence to Ambedkar's philosophy, resisting BJP expansion in Tamil Nadu.

VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan said on Saturday that his party would not deviate from Babasaheb Ambedkar’s philosophy to achieve temporary growth, fame, or authority.

“Barring Tamil Nadu, Dalits across India are supporting the BJP. The VCK has played a significant role in preventing the BJP from expanding in Tamil Nadu. This is because the VCK has a clarity, and an understanding of Ambedkar’s philosophy,” the Chidambaram MP said.

He was speaking at an event to launch the book, Iconoclast: A Reflective Biography of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, by scholar and civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde, at the party headquarters here.

“The biggest weapon given by Ambedkar is the Constitution. Today, attempts are being made to weaken it. People trust those who make such attempts. The right wing talks more about Ambedkar, celebrates him, and portrays him as a Hindutva leader. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Babasaheb Ambedkar is his God,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said. He further said the VCK’s role should not end within Tamil Nadu. There was a need for the party to spread across India. “We should create an impact to bring about a social change, which was Ambedkar’s dream,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said that though elections were secondary to the VCK, the party still had to contest them. “We have to face elections and continue in an alliance. Some are expecting the VCK to make a statement or decision according to their expectations. The VCK was not formed to dance to their tunes,” he added.

“The VCK is firm in its stand, and there is no need to panic. We know how to approach an issue. We are not greedy about shifting alliances or worried about grabbing an opportunity or missing it. Ambedkar is an ideological icon for us, not a commodity. We follow his ideology completely, and one of our goals is to move towards attaining political power. But what is more important is for whom or what it [the ideology] is used. We are not in the political arena without that clarity,” Mr. Thirumavalavan added.

Earlier in the day, he told reporters that the VCK did not endorse the opinion expressed by its deputy general secretary, Aadhav Arjuna, on Friday. The party’s high-level committee would send a notice to Mr. Arjuna, seeking an explanation, Mr. Thirumavalavan said.