Of the seven elected MPs from Tamil Nadu, two MPs are from the Dalit community from VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi).
Image courtesy: Newsminute
These two MPS Dr Thol. Thirumaavalavan,M.A., B.L., P.hD, President Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK, or Liberation Panthers Party) and Hon’ble Dr. D. Ravi Kumar, ,M.A., B.L., P.hD, General Secretary, Viduthalai ChiruthaigalKatchi (VCK, or Liberation Panthers Party) were facilitated jointly on 8th June 2019 at Andhra Bhawan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), National Dalit Watch (NDW), All India Dalit Rights Forum (AIDRF) and A.P Bhavan SC/ST Employees Welfare Association.
There are more than 250 MPs from dominant castes. Therefore the victory of these two Dalit MPs is very significant for representing the issues concerning Dalits in Parliament.
Dr. Ramesh Nathan (General Secretary, National Dalit Movement for Justice) said that this is a moment of great pride for the Dalit community that despite the tough competition and increased popularity of BJP Party in other parts of India, still VCK party managed to win in Tamil Nadu. The ideology of Dr.Thol. Thirumaavalavan and Dr. D. Ravi Kumar are very relevant to fight against caste system, untouchability, atrocities and caste feudal system.
Dr Thol. Thirumaavalavan and his party singularly raised their voice against the Sanatan Dharma and mobilised the voters to Save Democracy in Tamil Nadu.
Dr Thol. Thirumaavalavan has once again proved his mettle as the most charismatic leader of the present generation of Tamil and Dalit politics. He represents not only the political aspirations of the populous Dalit community in the State, but also ensured of the Tamil Dalits living across the world. He has again emerged victorious for the second time from the Chidambaram constituency.
The emergence of Dr. Thirumavalavan onto the Tamil political landscape dominated by Dravidian politics was a historical watershed for subaltern politics. His emergence as a political leader in the post-1990 Ambedkar centenary era is a significant moment in the history of Tamil and Dalit politics.
The other Dalit MP, Writer D. Ravikumar, the party’s general secretary, is a former M.L.A, who has a number of literary works to his name including Venomous Touch: Notes on Caste, Culture and Politics and has written passionate critiques of casteism. He has intellectual and political standing and has made several policy interventions when he was elected as MLA from Kattumannarkoil constituency in 2006.
Dr Ravi Kumar, a great writer on Dalit struggles and aspirations said that he is fighting for numerical strength, financial strength and political equality of Dalits. He said that he will take up the issue of ‘Reservation in Universities’ in the coming days.
On the occasion of the felicitation, Mr. N. Paul Divakar, Chairperson, Asia Dalit Rights Forum-ADRF, Ms. Beena Pallikal, General Secretary, DAAA-NCDHR, Rev. Dr. Vincent Manoharan, National Convener, National Dalit Christian Watch, Rev. Dr. Vincent Manoharan, National Convener, NDCW,Ms. Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist, ANHAD, Mr. Anand Rao, Assist. Commissioner, AP Bhavan and National Convener, AIDRF ,Prof. Sugumar, University of Delhi, Rev. Fr. Vijoy Kumar Nayak, Secretary, CBCI, Hon’ble Sr. Anastasia Gill, Member, Delhi Minority Commission Adv. Franklin Caesar, Supreme Court of India, Father Denzil Fernandes Executive Director Jesuit Indian Social Institute were present.
Courtesy: Two Cirlces