Tamil Nadu govt drops Periyar, Ambedkar, Nehru references from BC, MBC welfare dept policy note | Chennai News
CHENNAI: The C Joseph Vijay-led Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam govt’s policy note for the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department has dropped references to social reformer Thanthai Periyar EV Ramasamy, BR Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru that figured in the previous year’s document, triggering a political controversy.The 2024 policy note, tabled by the then DMK government, had detailed Periyar’s role in the 1951 agitation against the Supreme Court’s striking down of the Communal GO.It also linked the agitation to the First Constitutional Amendment brought in by then Prime Minister Nehru and law minister Ambedkar.The amendment introduced Article 15(4), which enabled the state to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes.The corresponding section has been omitted from the latest policy note tabled in the Assembly on Thursday. References to the Justice Party’s contribution to Tamil Nadu’s social justice movement have also been dropped.The omission has drawn attention as the TVK government has repeatedly invoked Periyar’s “Ellarkkum Ellam” (Everything for Everyone) while highlighting its commitment to social justice.On Friday, minister V Sampath Kumar, replying to the debate on the demands for grants in the Assembly, said the foundation of the TVK government was laid on Periyar’s core ideology of “Everything for Everyone”.VCK general secretary Sinthanai Selvan sought chief minister Vijay’s intervention over the omission.
VCK general secretary Sinthanai Selvan’s social media post questions the omission of names and reference of Thanthai Periyar, Ambedkar and Nehru from the policy note for the year 2026-2027
However, instead of directly blaming the political leadership, Selvan held the bureaucracy responsible for the changes and demanded an apology from the Chief Secretary and the department secretary.Selvan’s social media post on the issue, along with a screenshot of the portion omitted from the latest policy note, has added to the political debate.The issue also comes amid criticism of the bureaucracy from within the government.Social justice minister Vanni Arasu, in an interview with TOI, alleged that a majority of bureaucrats and police officers subscribe to right-wing ideology and follow Manusmriti rather than the Constitution.His remarks echoed the views expressed earlier by VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.The issue comes against the backdrop of a recent circular issued by senior bureaucrat on monitoring students associated with left movements and collecting information about members of left parties.The circular had drawn criticism from CPM state secretary P Shanmugam and CPI state secretary M Veerapandian. They held chief secretary Sai Kumar responsible and demanded action against him.The government is yet to publicly explain why references to Periyar, Ambedkar, Nehru and the Justice Party, which were included in the 2024 policy note, were omitted from the latest document.The omission has put the spotlight on the government’s handling of references to Tamil Nadu’s social justice history at a time when it has been projecting social justice as a key part of its policy agenda.
