Tamil Nadu Life Rights Party President Velmurugan has requested that the Tamil Nadu government should conduct a caste-wise census immediately.
A consultation meeting was held at the Chennai Journalists Association on the need for a caste-wise census on behalf of the Tamils Right to Life Federation and the Federation for Social Justice. Tamil Nadu Life Rights Party President Velmurugan and Aam Aadmi Party State President Vashikaran in this consultation meeting.
A large number of people including leaders of various political parties and administrators of various movements participated.
Velmurugan, who regularly met the media, said that a caste-wise survey should be conducted in Tamil Nadu to ensure education, employment opportunities and educational rights for the respective communities. Today more than 50 political organizations in Tamil Nadu participated and discussed many issues. In Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu government should conduct a caste-wise census immediately. While conducting a caste-wise survey, all appropriate detailed survey should be conducted including language-wise education and economy of the people.
When cases including five per cent reservation come before the Supreme Court, they ask for details based on statistics. So if we give that data and the statistics of 69% reservation in our hand when asked by the Supreme Court, there will be more chance of extending the reservation.
A caste-wise census is necessary so that there is no dispute that one class has been given more and another class has been given less. The Tamil Nadu government should immediately conduct a survey to collect all data including language education.
We have been giving seats to various classes by keeping the caste-wise census taken during Chattanathan’s time. Reservations should be given according to the number of communities present. Lesser communities should not take more reservations. This is social justice. Here we are consulting on the basis of the Supreme Court verdict that the Tamil Nadu government can conduct a caste-wise census.
The movements gathered here are going to meet the Chief Minister directly and make our demand regarding the caste-wise census. The Chief Minister should spare time for us and call us and hold an all-party meeting on social justice immediately.
We demand that our fair social justice rights be fulfilled. We urge the Chief Minister that you should take the initiative of caste-wise census as it has been done in Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana and other states. We also want to inform the Chief Minister that we stand by the Chief Minister’s protests.
There is no restriction on the State Government to conduct caste-wise census and collect statistics. The Supreme Court has confirmed that the state government has full rights. Therefore, this is a meeting to emphasize that the Tamil Nadu government should take a caste-wise census and provide reservation for all communities, he said.
A Union Government is a Sanadana Government, a Government which has adopted the principles of Varna Shirama. A caste-wise census was conducted during the Congress regime and a report was submitted in 2011 and now it is in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We cannot expect a government against the principles of equality to even hold a press conference and publish it. That is why we are making our demand to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, a social justice government. You should take steps for this, whatever the risks may be, we the political parties of Tamil Nadu will stand by you and be determined to conduct the caste-wise census, he added.
The number of people coming from northern states is increasing day by day. Their dominance has increased here. Therefore, Velmurugan said that the right to life of the people of Tamil Nadu will be protected if this caste-wise census is conducted.