PMK flays State govt. for not implementing Vanniyar reservation

by · The Hindu

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss’ recent announcement that the party would organise a State-wide protest against the State government not implementing the 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars within the Most Backward Classes quota is likely to set the tone for the party for the upcoming 2026 State Assembly election. The protest is planned to be held across the district headquarters on December 24.

Party spokesperson K. Balu said the protests “are a warning to the State government that 1000 days have passed since the SC (Supreme Court) struck down the Vanniyar reservations” and “to the ruling DMK for consistently misleading the Assembly on this issue”.

“In the State Assembly, CM Stalin charges the previous government of passing the law without proper data. He keeps saying that the SC had stayed 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars within the MBC quota, which is not true. SC has struck down the law but has made the observation that reservations for the Vanniyars or any other community can be given based on quantifiable data,” said Mr. Balu.

Mr. Balu pointed out the State government’s reasons for not implementing the reservation were contradictory. “The State Government has said that only the Centre has the power to enumerate caste-wise census. If only the Centre has the power to conduct census, why did the State Government pass a G.O. (Dated 12-1-23) to frame ‘terms of reference’ for the Backward Classes Commission headed by Justice Bharathidasan to collect data and provide Vanniyar reservations?”

Apart from the protests, the PMK will also be organising a Farmers’ Union public rally in Tiruvannamalai on December 21 and the party’s general body meeting in Puducherry on December 28.

The meeting is likely to give a new direction to the party in the run-up to the 2026 assembly election. The party leadership will also announce Vanniyar Sangam’s public rally usually organised on ‘Chithra Pournami’ full moon day in the summer.

Published - December 14, 2024 12:52 am IST