Madurai: A false narrative was being built that VCK influenced IPS postings and dalit representations in cabinet, with the aim of portraying the govt as acting at his behest, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said at a news meet in Madurai on Friday.
Terming it “100% false,” he said TVK appointed only six scheduled caste ministers, while two others were selected separately by the Congress and VCK as coalition partners. Thirumavalavan said even these appointments were being used to ask whether TVK was “a party serving a particular caste” or giving importance to one community. He denied having any role in appointments, including that of a police officer, and asked why the officer was later removed if the claim was true.
He said an OBC-versus-dalit narrative was being circulated to turn other communities against the govt. He asked why DMK and AIADMK had not been questioned for failing to provide scheduled caste communities cabinet representation based on their population, while traditionally limiting posts to representatives from three communities.
Thirumavalavan said VCK had sustained itself in electoral politics for 25 years while several movements that began during the same period had lost momentum. He said the Aug 17 Tamil National Awakening Conference would focus on state autonomy and abolition of caste.
Asked by reporters about TVK being cordial with PMK, Thirumavalavan said there was nothing wrong with maintaining cordial personal relations. “There is a good understanding between TVK and VCK. There is no gap between us,” he said. On an Ambedkar statue kept unopened for years at Pudaiyur near Gangavalli in Salem district, he asked the govt to simplify permission procedures, empower collectors to grant approvals, remove iron cages around Ambedkar statues and quash cases filed against those who protested demanding the statue.
He also condemned the late-night questioning of journalist Vijayan, saying authorities must not intimidate journalists, and urged the chief minister to consider a CBI investigation sought by the family in the Sabari custodial death case in Kanyakumari.
Courtesy : TOI
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