Political disempowerment of Dalits in T.N. is reason for rise in atrocities: VCK chief

The shockingly low conviction fee of 12.2% in Tamil Nadu in circumstances of atrocities in opposition to Scheduled Castes was vital decrease than the nationwide common of 31.9% as per the most recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) information and was a results of “political disempowerment of Dalits” in the previous few many years, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi common secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar has stated .

Referring to the current NCRB information for 2023, Mr. Ravikumar stated on Wednesday, “Even although crimes in opposition to Scheduled Castes (SCs) have elevated throughout India, the scenario in Tamil Nadu is especially stunning. A complete of 1,921 crimes had been dedicated in opposition to the SC neighborhood folks within the State in 2023. In 2021, the quantity was 1,377 and it elevated by round 400 circumstances to 1,761 in 2022. In 2023, it rose additional to 1,921.”

He additional stated whereas crimes in opposition to the SC folks had decreased in 2023 in comparison with 2022 in States corresponding to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu had recorded a rise.

“In 2023, 74 Dalits had been murdered in Tamil Nadu. Sexual violence in opposition to Dalit girls has additionally elevated. In 2023, 135 Dalit girls had been raped in Tamil Nadu — of those, 100 had been minor ladies. Rape of minor ladies belonging to Scheduled Castes is especially excessive solely in six States in India: Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is without doubt one of the 4 states the place riots in opposition to SC communities happen in excessive numbers.,” he stated.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ravikumar claimed that each the DMK and the AIADMK woo the Other Backward Class (OBC) voters, not by extending welfare measures to them, however by displaying them that they had been keen to disregard the pursuits and aspirations of the Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu.

“In Bihar, Dalit votes had been essential for the victory of the National Democratic Alliance. Chirag Paswan, of Lok Jan Shakthi Party, was empowered with 29 seats. A majority of the SC sub-castes supported the alliance overwhelmingly. However, in Tamil Nadu, the Dravidian events canine whistle the OBC voters by displaying that they’re able to ignore the calls for, aspirations and rights of the Dalits. This reminds us of The Hindutva tactic of getting the votes of The Hindu majority in North India, by systematically denying Muslims their rights, ignoring their calls for and discarding their aspirations.”

Mr. Ravikumar stated, “Nowhere in India, the Dalits have been sidelined like they’ve been in Tamil Nadu – politically, economically and socially. Atrocities are extra in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and Rajasthan however conviction fee is extra. The conviction fee is extra as a result of Dalits are politically empowered…in contrast to in Tamil Nadu.”