Not a single Dalit was allowed to take part in the car-pulling event: Tirumavalavan
A SMOOTH RUN: The temple car of Sornamurtheeswarar being pulled by hundreds of devotees at Kandadevi in Sivaganga District on Tuesday. Photo: S. James
MADURAI: Dalit Panthers of India leader Thol. Tirumavalavan has accused the State Government of not taking steps to implement the Madras High Court order on the Kandadevi temple car-pulling event.
Mr. Tirumavalavan was arrested on his way to the Sivaganga district to participate in the Kandadevi festival on Tuesday. He was taken into custody along with 50 cadres when he arrived at the airport here. They were released in the evening.
“Not a single Dalit was allowed to take part in the car-pulling event. At the behest of the Government, the police prevented them [the Dalits] from going anywhere near the car. This contravenes the Madras High Court order, which directed the district administration to ensure full participation of Dalits. It is clearly contempt of court,” he told The Hindu here.
The DPI leader said that Dalits were “terrorised” by officials during negotiations before the event. “The officials have acted in favour of caste Hindus. The Kandadevi issue is similar to that of the problem prevailing in the Keeripatti, the Pappapatti and the Nattarmangalam panchayats in Madurai district. An amicable solution can be arrived at only when the Government makes sincere efforts to fulfil its Constitutional obligations.”
The DPI would organise Statewide demonstrations to condemn the denial of rights to the Dalits and initiate contempt proceedings against those responsible for violating the order, he added.
Krishnasamy held
The Puthiya Tamizhagam leader, K. Krishnasamy was arrested in Tiruchi to prevent him from proceeding to Kandadevi in Sivaganga district, where the car temple festival is to be held.
The PT leader, who arrived in Tiruchi early on Tuesday, was taken into custody from the hotel in which he was staying. Seventeen others, including human rights activist Pudhuvai Sugumaran, were also held.
Amid tight security, Dr. Krishnasamy and his supporters were taken to the police community hall at K.K. Nagar where they were kept through the day. Security was strengthened in the vicinity of the community hall.
Police sources here said Dr. Krishnasamy had been arrested as a preventive measure since Section 144 was in force in Kandadevi in connection with the festival.
Following the arrest of Dr. Krishnasamy, a case was registered in the Cantonment police station.
Dr. Krishnasamy told The Hindu over phone that the arrest was “unnecessary and undemocratic.” He said he planned to go to Kandadevi to instil confidence among the oppressed community.
Arrests in Pudukottai
Volunteers of the Makkal Thamizhagam were arrested in Pudukottai district as a preventive measure after they allegedly attempted to proceed to Kandadevi.
Police sources said 35 members of the Makkal Thamizhagam assembled at the house of the MT leader, Puratchi Kavidasan, at Kovilpatti near Thirugokarnam.
In another incident, 11 members of the same organisation were arrested at Ponnamaravathy in the district after they attempted to proceed to Kandadevi.
Separate cases had been registered in Thirugokarnam and Ponnamaravathy police stations, the sources added.
The Hindu / 22.06.2005.
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