A complaint has been filed at the Thoothukudi SIPCOT police station against Thoothukudi MLA Geetha Jeevan of the DMK for allegedly instigating enmity between communities. This based on an audio clip that is purportedly a telephone conversation a man and Geetha Jeevan. TNM was not able to authenticate the veracity of the audio clip and when it was recorded.
In the audio, the MLA allegedly attempts to persuade a resident of Madurai to gather others to protest against the clubbing of seven sub-castes in the Devendra kula Vellalar community. The man, who introduces himself as hailing from Madurai and belonging to the Pillaimar community (categorized as Backward Caste) allegedly says that his community is staunchly against the declaration of seven sub-castes communities as a part of Devendrakula vellalars. The seven sub-castes are Kudumban, Pannadi, Kaalaadi, Kadayan, Devendrakulathan, Vadhiriyaar and Pallan.
The man, whose identity is not known, says his community is part of the Vellalar community and they do not want the seven sub-castes to be known by the same name. “We are against it because, we (Pillaimars) are in a higher position in the society (categorized as Backward Caste),” the man says, to which the MLA agrees stating that it would be better to declare the seven sub-sects as ‘Devendrakulathor’ similar to ‘Mukkulathor’ without using the term ‘Vellalar’ in it.
Geetha then pacifies the man stating that the DMK would not declare the clubbing of the seven sub-castes but would only consider the demands of the SC community. The MLA then instructs the man to send as many letters as possible from the people of his community to all the MLAs, MPs and the committee which has been appointed by the ruling AIADMK, explaining their opposition. “If you just put the addressee as so-and-so constituency MLA, the letter will reach them. In case you want names, it is available on the internet,” she says. She also says that she will arrange for the man to meet DMK MP Kanimozhi in person and submit a representation on behalf of the people of his community.
The government of Tamil Nadu had, recently, put in place a committee to look into Puthiya Thamizhagam party leader Krishnasamy’s long-standing demand to rename seven sub-sects in the SC list as Devendrakula vellalars and be removed from the SC list. The idea behind this demand is to remove the social stigma associated with them being put in the list of Scheduled Castes.
Despite the MLA offering justification for her comments, the DMK party workers in the region were reportedly not satisfied with the explanation and have allegedly raised the issue with the party President MK Stalin and the secretary of the women’s wing, Kanimozhi. Following this, a local DMK functionary has also given a complaint to the Thoothukudi SP Murali Rambha seeking action against the MLA.
This issue assumes significance as Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi is likely to be DMK’s candidate from Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency. Kanimozhi filed her application with the DMK to contest from Thoothukudi and was interviewed by the DMK senior leaders at Chennai on Sunday.
Speaking to TNM about the matter, the SP confirmed that a complaint has been filed by a DMK cadre. “It is being inquired by the police at the SIPCOT police station,” he said. The police officers at the SIPCOT police station were not immediately reachable for more details on the issue. TNM was unable to reach MLA Geetha Jeevan for a comment.