Coimbatore: The DMK and MDMK, which claim they always espouse social justice and women's rights, should explain why they remained silent over the Scheduled Tribes being deprived of their concessions and other benefits in Kashmir for the last 72 years, former Union Minister and BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan said here on Friday.
The Scheduled Tribes in Kashmir were deprived of concessions and benefits and the women there were not given equal rights for the last seven decades, he told reporters at Mettupalayam near here, after paying floral tributes at the portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary. Several BJP members joined Radhakrishnan on the solemn occasion.
"Why have the DMK and MDMK, who always talk about social justice and women's rights, remained silent on the issue for the last 72 years?" Radhakrishnan asked. He said such parties (DMK, MDMK) "are betraying the people of the country on the Kashmir issue".
Claiming that grant of special status to Kashmir had not resulted in any development over the years, he alleged that only a "red carpet welcome" had been given to terrorists from across the border, resulting in bomb blasts.
"Let DMK raise questions on all of those who benefited by the special status in Kashmir", he said. By abrogating Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a new India, he said.
