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India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
DMK failed to fight for Vanniyars: BJP ally party leader protests caste survey delay
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday led a protest in Villupuram, questioning the DMK government's commitment to social justice and demanding the implementation of 10.5 per cent internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, a prominent backward community in the the founding day of the Vanniyar Sangam, Anbumani lashed out at the DMK for failing to conduct a caste survey and for not implementing the Supreme Court's directive granting internal reservation to the Vanniyars, which he claimed has been pending for 1,208 by exposing the social injustice of the DMK government and through intense, non-violent struggles, as we did in the past under the guidance of Ramadoss, can we secure reservation for Vanniyars,' Anbumani said while addressing the gathering. He recalled the sacrifices of 21 protesters, including 15 from Villupuram, who were killed during earlier agitations for reservation. 'They lost their lives so that the community's children could study and live with self-respect. Stalin should immediately bring internal reservation for Vanniyars,' he to Anbumani, the Supreme Court had clarified that the Tamil Nadu government has full authority to implement internal reservation without the need for a caste survey or approval from the Centre. Yet, he alleged, the DMK government continues to delay.'Even a panchayat leader has the authority to conduct a caste survey under the Indian Statistical Act, 2008. Yet, Stalin claims he does not have the authority. Other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Bihar have conducted surveys under the same Act,' he the DMK of being 'against social justice,' Anbumani pointed out that while 23 of DMK's 133 MLAs and five of its MPs belong to the Vanniyar community, they were chosen for their caste yet failed to secure the community's also credited former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami with granting 10.5 per cent internal reservation to Vanniyars after much struggle, but claimed the DMK did not pursue the legal battle properly, resulting in setbacks in cadres expressed their anger by throwing a chappal at Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's poster and tearing it the Vanniyars the single largest community in Tamil Nadu, at about 18 per cent of the population, Anbumani said they deserved a proportional share in reservation. He also announced that the PMK is preparing for its 'next stage' of protests, which would include filling prisons in a democratic manner to intensify the fight for reservation.'The foundation of all social justice lies in the struggles of working people. This protest will strengthen that foundation and ensure rightful reservations for all communities,' he concluded.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PMK leader Anbumani seeks 10.5 per cent quota for Vanniyars, stages protest in Villupuram
VILLUPURAM: Condemning the state's delay in introducing the 10.5% internal quota for Vanniyars, PMK president Dr Anbumani led a protest on Sunday, which drew participation from PMK cadre and members of Vanniyar associations. Anbumani claimed the Supreme Court order (that struck down the 10.5% internal quota for Vanniyars) delivered over 1,200 days ago did not say the state had to conduct a caste count to introduce the quota or that it needed the centre's nod to do so. He claimed the DMK government could have introduced the quota after the verdict. 'If the reservation had been implemented, today 3,800 Vanniyars would have become doctors and 6,000 would have secured government jobs,' he said. He alleged that 80,000 students were denied college admissions due to suspension of the quota. Anbumani further said the 38 Vanniyar MLAs from major parties should boycott the Assembly until the quota is reinstated. 'We will launch more intense protests if our demands are ignored,' he added. He said that no Vanniyar vote should go to DMK in the 2026 Assembly election.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Anbumani lauds father during protest; Ramadoss sacks 3 MLAs
Chennai: Against the backdrop of a leadership struggle in the party, the PMK protest demanding 10.5% quota for vanniyars turned into a show of strength by party president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday in Villupuram. Speaking amid PMK cadre who gathered from various districts, Anbumani said that ideally vanniyars should be given 18% reservation proportionate to their population. But the 10.5% quota was non–negotiable, he said. Party founder S Ramadoss skipped the protest organized by Anbumani and cracked down on Anbumani supporters by announcing that three PMK MLAs who participated in the stir were being suspended from the party. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Nevertheless, Anbumani praised his father Ramadoss during the protest which coincided with the 46th foundation day of Vanniyar Sangam. Anbumani said the '45 year long protest' by Ramadoss for a separate reservation for vanniyars was longer than the independence struggle undertaken by Gandhi. "Gandhi came to India in 1915 and protested for India's independence until 1947. When compared to that protest, the protest by our ayya (Ramadoss) for a separate reservation for Vanniyars is even longer," Anbumani said. Anbumani attacked the DMK govt for not providing reservation for vanniyars while using the community to get votes. "As many as 23 of the 133 DMK MLAs and 5 MPs are vanniyars, but the party is refusing to provide reservation for vanniyars. Even vanniyar MLAs in DMK are not demanding separate quota for the community," Anbumani said. Earlier, Ramadoss hoisted the Vanniyar Sangam flag at his Thailapuram residence marking the foundation day. Speaking to reporters, Ramadoss said he "wishes success for everyone who protests for the vanniyar cause." However, after the protest, Ramadoss announced that three party MLAs, S Sadhasivam (Mettur), C Sivakumar (Mailam), and S P Venkateshwaran (Dharmapuri), and party spokesperson K Balu will be suspended from the party for "acting against the interest of the party."
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMK treating Vanniyar community as mere vote bank during elections: Anbumani Ramadoss
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday charged the ruling DMK of treating the Vanniyar community merely as a vote bank during elections. He claimed the party, its president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin were against Vanniyars and social justice. Leading a demonstration at the municipal ground in Villupuram demanding the implementation of 10.5 % reservation for Vanniyars, Mr. Anbumani alleged that Mr. Stalin betrayed the Vanniyar community by refusing to provide internal reservations for Vanniyars within the MBC quota. Though 1208 days have passed since the Supreme Court struck down the Vanniyar reservations, the ruling DMK has been consistently misleading the people on this issue, he claimed. The Apex court has observed that reservations for the Vanniyars or any other community can be given based on quantifiable data. Mr. Anbumani said the plea for reservation for Vanniyars had not been fulfilled for the last 45 years. As many as 21 persons lost their lives during the struggle demanding exclusive reservation for Vanniyars in 1989. Of them, 15 were from Villupuram district. The former Union minister recalled that he and his father, and party founder S. Ramadoss, had met the Chief Minister on several occasions to press for the implementation of 10.5% reservation, but in vain. 'The DMK and the Chief Minister betrayed the PMK by promising to give 10.5% internal reservation, and after four years, now Mr. Stalin is saying that reservation could be given only after the Union Government conducts the caste census. Mr. Stalin again and again said this lie while States like Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, and Bihar conducted caste surveys, and now again Karnataka has announced they are going to conduct a second caste survey. While these States have the right to conduct the surveys, why does Tamil Nadu not have that power?' Mr. Anbumani questioned. Of its total representatives, the DMK has 23 MLAs and five Members of Parliament from the Vanniyar community. 'Did the Dravidian party implement any welfare schemes for the upliftment of the community?' he asked. Stating not even one vote should go to the DMK in the 2026 elections, Mr. Anbumani said the time to unseat the DMK government has come. Mr. Anbumani said the party would soon launch a jail bharo agitation across the State in support of its demand. If the DMK government fails to enact a law and ensure 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars, the party would intensify its protest and hold a road roko agitation in the second phase.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Govt calls all-party meeting ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament
Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, set to run from July 21 to August 21, the government has called for an all-party meeting on Sunday. The all-party meeting comes a day after the Opposition INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting on Saturday to discuss its strategy for the Monsoon Session and the issues it intends to raise to corner the government. Notably, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was absent from the meeting after it declared it was only part of the INDIA bloc for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After the Saturday meeting, the INDIA bloc said there was a consensus among the allies on eight major issues to be raised in Parliament. While the BJP-led NDA government seems to be keen to make the Monsoon Session heavy with its legislative agenda, the Opposition is set to corner the government over multiple issues, ranging from the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor to US President Donald Trump's claim of brokering the India-Pakistan ceasefire, to the Election Commission (EC)'s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, as reported by Liz Mathew. 'The government has a heavy legislative agenda, but the session will be dominated by the SIR exercise in Bihar, Operation Sindoor and Ahmedabad air crash probe,' admitted a source from the Treasury benches. Parliament is also expected to take up the issue of impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose Delhi residence stacks of currency notes were allegedly recovered. An inquiry committee will be set up by the presiding officer of the House concerned to probe charges against Justice Varma, whose timeline for submitting its report will be crunched from three months, sources said. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is set to hold a protest on Sunday in Villupuram district against the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government over its 'failure' to implement a 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars within the reservation for Most Backward Communities (MBCs). However, the protest comes at a tumultuous time for the party, which is in the midst of a dispute between PMK founder S Ramadoss and his son, party president Anbumani over the leadership of the regional outfit. But recent reports suggest the two are heading towards rapprochement after the alleged discovery of a tapping device at the senior Ramadoss's home, as reported by Arun Janardhanan. According to two senior PMK sources and a confidant close to the family, a complaint filed on behalf of Ramadoss about the discovery of a sophisticated audio-tapping device at his house, and the hint that the son's side may be implicated in it, had prompted a flurry of damage-control efforts by the family. G Viswanathan, who runs the VIT Group of Institutions and is a long-time friend of the family, is reportedly the chief mediator. However, the PMK and Ramadoss family later got apprehensive that the complaint provided a reason to the DMK government to send in state police into Ramadoss's house, as well as go after Anbumani. The PMK is an ally of the BJP-led NDA in the state. This added an urgency to the mediation efforts between the father and son, and as per sources, a breakthrough is near. A PMK leader said what contributed to the thaw was Anbumani's meeting last week with mother Saraswathi at a family wedding in Chennai. Anbumani and his wife Sowmya touched Saraswathi's feet and sought her blessings, as senior party members watched. The two sides reportedly went on to hold talks for nearly two hours, though Ramadoss and Anbumani made sure that they were not present together at the venue. The signs of a truce before the protest on Sunday, which is expected to attract more than 5,000 party cadres, could provide a symbolic boost to the party. – With PTI inputs
