Chennai: BJP national secretary H. Raja attempted to paint social reformer and founder of Dravidar Kazhagam, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, as an anti Dalit.
As for Periyar’s statement on Dalit women, Periyarist and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam general secretary Viduthalai Rajendran clarified that EVR, while campaigning for the then chief minister K. Kamaraj in the Assembly polls, had stated that
Dalit women had started wearing blouses due to social transformation that happened during the Congress leader’s regime. “However, this statement was first distorted and the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli carried a cartoon quizzing whether Periyar was opposing Dalit women wearing blouses. But Periyar himself issued a statement explaining his statement,” he said.
“The whole world knows how Periyar along with Ambedkar and other leaders fought against oppression of Dalits. Raja need not teach us lessons,” VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan said. Dravidian scholar Suba Veerapandian dismissed Mr Raja’s charges as an attempt to garner cheap publicity. “He has made it as a habit to make false charges and demean Periyar,” he said.
