Latest news with #TamilNaduUntouchabilityEradicationFront
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
TNUEF calls for timely implementation of caste census
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) staged a protest demonstration here demanding time-bound implementation of the caste census announced by the Union government. Protesters of the CPM-affiliated outfit gathered outside the BSNL office, flagging alleged gaps in the Union Government's announcement. According to the TNUEF, the BJP-led government came around to conceding the demand for a caste census after much resistance. However, the announcement made does not specify when the exercise would commence, what the enumeration parameters would be, the timeline for the completion of the census among other details. According to the TNUEF, there was also no budgetary allocation and no end date for completion of the census, casting doubts on the government's intent. The Left parties have maintained that the objective of the caste census was not to aggravate the divides but to statistically arrive at the numbers to remedy the disproportionate allocation of resources and opportunities to certain caste groups, and open up the gates to opportunities in employment and education and enable inclusive growth eliminating generational discrimination. The protests were led by special address by Aadhavan Deetchanya, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association; District Secretary of CPM; District Secretary of the TNUEF.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Take action against officials for preventing SC people from performing rituals at temple, says forum
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front representing the Scheduled Caste people of Uthapuram submitted a petition with the Madurai district administration recently, seeking equal rights for performing rituals at the Muthalamman Temple in the village. S. Sankaralingam, a villager and one of the petitioners, said that despite the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court's order directing the district administration to ensure that the SC people received equal rights at the temple, the Divisional Revenue Officer, who chaired a meeting between people of the two community ahead of the temple festival, had instructed the SC people to not broach the topic of performing 'Arasamaram' and other rituals. Following the court order dated April 21, 2025, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court said that the SC people could offer prayers at both Muthalamman temple and also at Mariamman Temple. 'Besides, the court also directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials in Dindigul to convene a committee to arrive at a solution to the 'group worship' ('koottu vazhipadu') within one year. Also, it must be ensured that the 'Arasamaram' is not damaged while performing the ritual by any group, Mr. Sankaralingam said. Based on the court order, on April 22, more than 500 SC people went to the temple and offered prayers by adhering to the court's order. However, the following morning, when the SC people went to the temple to perform rituals such as making Pongal and sacrificing goat, the police and revenue officials denied them permission stating that the court's order did not specify about granting permission for such rituals, he added. 'While the caste Hindus were allowed to perform similar rituals even early in the morning, the officials discriminated the SC people alone by stopping them from performing the rituals,' said T. Chellakannu, State president, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front. Despite pointing out the court order which stated that equal rights can be enjoyed by all during worship, the officials refused to give a suitable reply and prevented only the SC people from performing the rituals, he alleged. 'The police informed that they had locked the temple at about 3 in the morning itself. But, later in the evening, the locks of the police and revenue officials were found open,' he said. As the police did not follow the court's diktats, the Collector should initiate stern action against the revenue and police officials who acted in a biased manner, Mr. Chellakannu said.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Forum seeks action against accused who beat up SC youth near Sivakasi
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front has condemned Virudhunagar district police for having registered an assault case against a Scheduled Caste youth, D. Satheeshpandi, based on a false complaint lodged by some caste Hindu people who had beaten him up, on May 11. Its Virudhunagar district secretary, K. Murugan, has sought the intervention of the district administration and Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravida and Scheduled Tribes into the issue. In his petition, Mr. Murugan said that Satheeshpandi of P. Paraipatti and his friend E. Ramar were riding motorbike on May 11 when three caste Hindu youths had rode on bike fast and fell down near Ayyampatti. When Satheeshpandi had questioned them as to why they had rode so fast in a curve, they started to beat him up after knowing his caste identity. Later, few others joined them and they kicked him multiple times and threatened him with dire consequences. The injured did not reveal the incident to his parents until he started to vomit blood. Subsequently, he was admitted to the Government hospital in Sivakasi on May 12. After Davamani, father of Satheespandi, lodged a complaint, M. Pudupatti police registered a case of assault and under the provisions of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The caste Hindus later lodged a complaint, which Mr. Murugan said was on false charges, following which Satheespandi was booked for using abusive language, assault and criminal intimidation. Mr. Murugan charged that police personnel from M. Pudupatti police station had gone to the hospital, in support of the accused persons, and threatened him with registering ganja case against him. The petition demanded immediate arrest of the accused persons, recall of the criminal case registered against Satheeshpandi and registration of case against the police under the provisions of SC/ST (POA) Act.
