CHENNAI: In what could be termed as the height of untouchability, several MPs from TN allegedly were reluctant to go out for lunch or sit along with Lok Sabha member from Chidambaram (reserved) constituency Tirumavalavan in the Parliament, as he was a Dalit. Revealing this at a meeting on the livelihood demands of Dalits and Muslims organised by Islamic wing of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi here on Saturday, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Vellore MP Abdul Rahman said, “Many MPs from our State greet each other when they meet at the Parliament. But, the same members are reluctant to share seat with you (Tirumavalavan) or join you for lunch at the Parliament.” You might have been aware of this, he added. Reacting to the issue, in his address, Tirumavalavan said, he was not concerned about the MPs’ behaviour, as those Parliamentarians were the ones, who didn’t have an understanding of ‘Marxism’. “Moreover, I have had several such experiences through out my life from childhood,” he observed. Stressing the need for cooperation between the minority groups and Dalit parties to uplift both the communities, he said, separate electorate system for Dalits and Muslims must be introduced for the welfare of the minorities. Elaborating the history of the struggle for separate electorate system dating back to 1930’s, Tirumavalavan underlined that Dalit icon Dr Ambedkar urged separate electorate system and not the existing procedure of reserved constituencies for SCsDisadvantage of DMK AlliancePointing out that he has been voicing for the rights of the Eelam Tamils for over 25 years, Thirumavalavan said, “However, the Lankan Tamils don’t have faith in me for the sole reason that I am in an alliance led by the DMK.
Comments
0 comment