Chennai: When all political parties are raising the issue of ‘cash for votes’ with the Election Commission, this election is witnessing a new trend of ‘caste based inducement of voters against dalits’ across the state.
A WhatsApp message urging caste Hindus in the reserved constituencies to opt for Nota is being widely circulated in Western Tamil Nadu.
The message lists out all reserved constituencies in the state and says, “You should keep in mind whoever the candidate you vote in reserved seat he/she belongs to SC”.
“You have to compulsorily vote that is our duty. But you should not vote for the SC candidate. Only way for that is you should vote for Nota. This how we can uphold the pride of Kongu people,” it said.
This is also a chance for us to teach a lesson to the government that ignore us in providing any benefits in employment and others, it further said, urging the Kongu people to share it with as many people as possible so that it creates an impact in the ensuing election.
P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary, SPCSS-TN, said that he was pained to learn that election platform was being used to abuse and alienate dalits.
A. Kathie, executive director of Evidence, a Madurai based NGO, claimed that it is an indirect campaign by caste Hindus to seek de-reservation of the constituencies reserved for dalits.
