http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/dalits-cry-foul-over-mla-attack-vc-146
Dalits cry foul over MLA attack on VC August 9th, 2010 DC Correspondent Share Buzz up!Tirunelveli, Aug. 8: The struggle of the dalits against the DMK regime further intensified following the alleged attack by DMK MLA Malairaja on the dalit vice-chancellor of Tirunelveli Anna University Kaliappan during the varsity’s first convocation here on Saturday. Citing the recent suspension of C. Umashankar, a dalit IAS officer known for his probity, dalit leaders are accusing the DMK government of deliberately targeting the community. Complaining that Mr Kaliappan deliberately did not give him proper information about the university’s first convocation function, Mr Malairaja, who is also a syndicate member of the university, and his supporters picked up a quarrel with Mr Kaliappan and attacked the vice-chancellor and the physical education director. The incident is said to have occurred an hour prior to the arrival of deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin for the convocation. However, there were no eyewitnesses to the incident as it happened inside the closed office room of the vice-chancellor. Mr Kaliappan complained about the attack to Mr Stalin who rebuked the MLA. Subsequently, Mr Malairaja and his supporters boycotted the convocation. The vice-chancellor, who was said to have been pacified by chief minister M. Karunanidhi himself, did not respond to phone calls from this correspondent. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the director of Manitha Urimai Kalam and a dalit activist, Mr Barathan said he has contacted leaders of various outfits of the community and major political parties to wage a democratic fight against the DMK. He said the ruling party had made repeated onslaught against dalit officers starting with minister Suresh Rajan and his men attacking tahsildar Janarthanam in Kanyakumari in 2007, the recent suspension of Mr Umashankar, a native of Tirunelveli, and now the assault on Mr Kaliappan. Mr Kathir, director of Evidence, stated that his organisation was exploring the possibility of filing a PIL against politicians responsible for attacks on dalit officers. However, Mr Malairaja is said to be trying to entice leaders of the Pallar community (a dominant dalit sect in the south) against the vice-chancellor, who belongs to the Sermar community, a minority sect in the SC fold in Kanyakumari. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to zestmedia-dig...@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to zestcaste-subscr...@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zestcaste-dig...@yahoogroups.com zestcaste-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zestcaste-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/