Chennai, Sept 19 (BPNS)
AIADMK’s deposed leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam (OPS) has said that the untouchability practiced by the shopkeeper at Panjankulam village in Tenkasi district was due to the indifference of the DMK government.
In a statement on Monday, OPS said that this issue was due to the failure of the DMK government to generate awareness among school children about the importance of remaining united.
He said that even though untouchability has been eradicated legally, there have been stray incidents in some areas of the state. OPS said that it was the duty of the government to arrange meetings of elders in these areas to stress the importance of unity.
The former chief coordinator of AIADMK called upon the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to pay special attention to this matter and provide necessary directions to the state school education department on the importance of unity among children.
It may be noted that a shopkeeper in Panjankulam village in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu had refused to give snacks and candies to the children from Scheduled Castes leading to a major uproar. The shopkeeper Maheswaran and the president of the panchayat, Ramachandran was arrested and remanded in judicial custody under the SC/ST (Atrocities Prevention) Act. The South Zone Inspector General of Police is moving the Tenkasi special court to get an order preventing the duo from entering the village for a period of three years after they are released from jail.
