http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article441647.ecePublished: May 30, 2010 00:04 IST | Updated: May 30, 2010 02:24 IST
PUDUKOTTAI (TAMIL NADU), May 30, 2010
'Eliminating untouchability is first step to ending caste'
R. Rajaram
Annihilation of the caste system should be the goal and the first step
is to eliminate untouchability, Communist Party of India (Marxist)
general secretary Prakash Karat said on Saturday.
Untouchability was the worst feature of the caste system in the
country, Mr. Karat told the first State conference of the Tamil Nadu
Untouchability Eradication Front here. "Even after 62 years of
Independence what we find in our society is that caste transcended all
classes. Though the Constitution proclaimed equality, we still find it
did not go with the ground reality," Mr. Karat said.
Struggle against the caste system should go along with struggle
against socio-economic and class exploitation. What was needed was a
social revolution which could not come without fighting and abolishing
the caste system.
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front had been engaged in
path-breaking activity over the last three years fighting all forms of
caste discrimination and untouchability. Even people outside Tamil
Nadu were looking up to the Front as an inspiration in their struggle
against oppression. The Front should bring under its fold all those
who were against caste discrimination and untouchability and it would
become a genuine instrument in bringing about social change in Tamil
Nadu, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Karat released a collection of short stories authored by
Aadhavan Dheetchanya on atrocities committed against Dalits.
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front convenor P. Sampath called
for starting branches of the front at all levels within the State. The
front had created confidence among the oppressed communities.
General secretary of the All-India Vivasayigal Sangam K. Varadharajan,
CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan, party MLA S.K. Mahendran and
All-India Democratic Women's Association general secretary U. Vasuki
took part in the conference.
CPI(M) to seek ATR on Misra report
Addressing a public meeting organised by the front here, Mr. Karat
said the CPI(M) would demand, in the next session of the Parliament,
an action taken report on the recommendations of the National
Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice
Ranganath Misra.
Though the Centre had placed the commission's report in Parliament it
had not acted on that. The CPI (M) would be in touch with other
parties in this regard. The commission had made two major
recommendations — to provide reservation up to 15 per cent in
education and offer job opportunities for the minorities, who were
socially, educationally and economically backward. It had also
recommended that those of Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of
religion, be brought under the scheduled caste reservation, Mr. Karat
said.
The CPI (M) had been demanding that Dalit Christians and any person of
Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of religion, be provided
reservation.
Mr. Karat said the economic policies of the Centre had adversely
affected the livelihood of people. The policies limited the
opportunities for the Dalits as the government had downsized and
banned recruitment to various departments. "So where is the
reservation for SC and ST?" Mr.Karat said and pointed out that there
was no reservation in the private sector.
Fight privatisation
He called upon the oppressed communities to fight the privatisation,
liberalisation and globalisation policies of the government as it was
the only way to protect their lives.
The government was promoting privatisation of higher education and
allowing business houses to start educational institutions. Foreign
educational institutions had also been allowed. This way, education
would go out of the reach of SC, ST and other backward communities as
there would be no reservation.
Mr. Karat said a powerful struggle had to be launched to protect the
rights of the Dalits and other oppressed sections. The goals and aims
of social reformers like Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar had not been
fulfilled even after 62 years of Independence, he said, calling for a
fight against caste oppression. Untouchability in any form could not
be witnessed in Communist-ruled States, he observed.
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