People's Democracy

TAMILNADU

Casteist Elements Spew Venom

CPI(M) and TNUEF Rise To Defend The Oppressed

P Sampath

THE gory incidents in Naickenkottai village of Dharmapura district have left the dalits in limbo. At the same time, the casteist elements are trying to create a vote bank for themselves by organising the caste forces. To get back to limelight, the politically isolated Dr Ramadoss of Pattali Makkal Katchi has chosen a dangerous path i.e. caste mobilisation and caste alliances. And, this is not just to stitch an alliance but is also aimed at curbing the growth of dalits.

Pattali Makkal Katchi has faced heavy setback in Tamilnadu politics in the last decade.  In both parliamentary as well as assembly elections, it lost heavily and went into silent mode. To resurrect the party, Dr Ramadoss led PMK has decided to launch tirade against the dalits and mobilise the non-dalit organisations. It has also convened a meeting of such organisations on December 1. After the meeting, Dr Ramadoss spewed venom against the dalits.

He demanded amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He quoted some statistics to defend this. Under this Act, only in 2.2 per cent cases, the accused were punished. This itself shows that 97.8 per cent cases were failed. Hence, the SC/ST(Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be amended, demands Dr S Ramadoss. Actually, these are the statistics that are used by the forces who work for social justice to strengthen the act. The administration and the police are in connivance to deny dalits their rights. Dr S Ramadoss is misusing the statistics to suit his agenda. The real fact is that this Act is yet to be implemented in letter and spirit.

Dr Ramadoss knew it very well, but is trying to cobble together an alliance that will form a vote bank as well as an anti-dalit combination. To regain the lost space, he stooped very low. He claims that 81 per cent of the Tamils are with him. All these he does it to safeguard the untouchability, casteist oppression etc. He seeks immediate bail for those who were arrested under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This is to encourage the anti-social elements who attacks dalits. Also, it is a tactic to keep these anti-social elements safe and to keep dalits under threat always.

He also vent his anger against inter-caste marriages. He says it is nothing but love drama. He goes to such an extent saying that most of the inter-caste marriages are a failure. The figures are not true and it shows the intolerance towards growing numbers of love marriages. Infact, in the arranged marriages where everything is matched, dowry plays the major role. Even after marriage, they demand more and send the brides back home.

We see many such cases in the present world. For many women, facing torture has become a routine in their life. Women have been burnt to death for dowry. Domestic violence has become part of many women’s lives. Dr S Ramadoss underplays this and puts forth unscientific facts to support his view. Despite their efforts, the number of love marriages i.e. inter-caste marriages is increasing. This has increased the anger of Dr S Ramadoss and others, since this dislodges their casteist hold over the masses.

Dr S Ramadoss’s another assertion is irrational. He says, dalit boys are targeting the non-dalit girls for befriending them. It is a drama, he says. He is trying to dramatise it. Infact, the reality is contrary to what he said. Love marriages have shaken the casteist mindset. Left parties and democratic movements have continuously supported the inter-caste marriages.

Contrary to Dr S Ramadoss’s opinion that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act leads to unrest, it is the prevalence of untouchability practices, atrocities on the ones who defy it and other social oppressions that have led to unrest. The peace that casteist forces ask for is not the long lasting one, but that exists at graveyard. Dr S Ramadoss’s fire-spitting speech and also his partyman Kaduvetti Guru’s actions have led to violence.

In Cuddalore district, Kurinjipadi Taluk, Pacharapalayam village, a similar violent attack like Dharmapuri took place. Though the huts that were set ablaze were only eight, the mode of attack is similar. Here too, the caste forces could not digest the growth of dalits. The houses that were set fire, had youths who had just joined in police or were waiting for appointment orders. The self-reliance of dalits does not augur well for the casteist elements, hence the attacks on dalits.

CPI(M) and Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front(TNUEF) have stoutly defended the rights of dalits. CPI(M) is organising a protest demonstration in Dharmapuri itself on December  5, in which the Party’s state secretary G Ramakrishnan is taking part. All over Tamilnadu, TNUEF had conducted protest demonstrations on November 15 to condemn the barbaric act in Dharmapuri.  TNUEF is also organising a special conference on December 24 at Chennai to defend the inter-caste marriages.

The mobilisation of the CPI(M) and TNUEF has stirred up all democratic minded people, irrespective of caste, to fight against untouchability, social oppression etc. This is the reason for several successes for the movements that TNUEF had conducted in the past five years. The trend is set to continue.