Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister V P Singh in Chennai on Monday, November 27, in the presence of Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav even as he reiterated his demand for a nationwide caste census to systematically implement proportionate reservation. Stalin said a monitoring body comprising MPs from all parties should be constituted to ensure proper implementation of caste-based reservation. November 27 is the death anniversary of fotmer PM, VP Singh.
Paying tribute to the messiah of social justice as VP Singh has been known, the life size statue is first one to be installed outside V P Singh’s native place, was unveiled in the presence of his family members and Akhilesh Yadav at Presidency College in Chennai. The statue was installed at a cost of ₹52 lakh.
While Tamil Nadu Congress leaders were conspicuous by their absence, Akhilesh Yadav’s presence is significant, considering that his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, then UP CM, had, in 1990, withdrawn support to V P Singh and backed Chandra Shekhar.
After the unveiling of the statue, Stalin, at a function held at Kalaivanar Arangam, said caste census should be conducted along with “the much-delayed” population census. “The reservation for backward classes, ST/ST and minorities should be properly implemented. To ensure that this is done across the country, an all-party MPs panel should be formed,” he said. Stalin also stated that all political movements interested in social justice should join hands to achieve this. Though the caste matrix differed in each state, the problems of boycott, discrimination, and untouchability remain the same.
Social justice was the answer and antidote to these problems and for social justice to thrive, these measures were crucial, Stalin noted. “We should convert the political programme aimed at the growth of SC/ST, OBCs and minorities into government policies,” he said.
Appreciating Stalin for installing the statue, Akhilesh Yadav said the gesture gave them strength to fight for the downtrodden. “This also translates into a message from Tamil Nadu to the leaders in New Delhi to remember that social justice should drive all policies,” he said. “The Samajwadi Party stands with DMK in its fight for social uplift…it’s a long road ahead and we will fight this together,” said the former UP chief minister.
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