Tiruchirappalli, August 30: Thol Thirumavalavan, the president of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and a Member of Parliament, raised concerns on Sunday regarding the Tamil Nadu government’s policy note on the welfare of backward classes. He questioned the absence of references to B.R. Ambedkar and E.V. Ramasamy, also known as Periyar, suggesting there might be a hidden agenda behind this omission.
Speaking to reporters at Tiruchirappalli Airport, Thirumavalavan stated that this oversight raises serious questions and demanded clarification from the relevant officials and ministers. He emphasized that the government should investigate how this error occurred and take steps to prevent such mistakes in future policy documents.
The VCK leader also highlighted the Tamil Nadu government’s responsibilities towards Dalits, which include strengthening their safety measures and considering special laws for their welfare and security. Thirumavalavan expressed hope that the government would fulfill these commitments and assured that they would continue to pressure for effective action.
The controversy erupted after the ‘Policy Note for the Department of Welfare of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes’ for 2026-27, presented in the assembly on Thursday, omitted mentions of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Periyar, Ambedkar, and the Justice Party. In contrast, the previous DMK government’s policy note prominently featured these leaders and their contributions to social justice and reservation movements.
Reports indicate that the new document also fails to mention the ‘community government order,’ Periyar’s movements, the Mandal Commission, and the initiation of 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in government jobs and educational institutions.
The DMK accused the TVK government of deliberately removing significant chapters from Tamil Nadu’s social justice history. I. Paranthaman, joint secretary of the DMK’s legal wing, claimed that this oversight constitutes a historical betrayal for a state known as a bastion of social justice and a strong voice for marginalized communities.
He alleged that the contributions of the Justice Party and key leaders of social justice were systematically removed. The DMK also accused the TVK administration of operating like a “shadow BJP government,” despite coming to power with the support of Congress and other allies.
In response to the criticism, V. Sampath Kumar, the Minister for Welfare of Backward Classes, accepted moral responsibility for these omissions. He acknowledged the mistake and assured that a revised and improved version of the policy note would be published.
Thirumavalavan also criticized the decision to reduce security for former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, calling it a wrong move and urging the government to restore the security arrangements previously provided to the DMK leader.
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